its a very short trip to Semarang...

That day was my birthday, September 9, 2011
It was a week after Lebaran. Everyone still not in the mood of doing something. Holiday atmosphere still in the air. So am i, but that day i've came to office, doing some "office thing" (read as: working), have many greeting and free cake from "Rainbow" till i finally escaped on 4.00 PM. Yups, i was escaped. I've plan to attend my bestfriend's (Nenek ^) wedding at Semarang.

A wedding. Out of town. On lebaran holiday. On My Birthday actually.

I took Kopaja 20 from office to Gambir train station. Kopaja is a metromini/small bus that operate around Jakarta city. No AC, even no seat if you take it on busy hours. Most of Kopaja in Jakarta designed with a green and white colours. The doors were open along the trip and there is a "kenek/Kernet/Kondektur" who's standing and shouting to get the passengers. The different with metromini only was about the colour, metromini have an orange colour. And no 20, indicated the route pledged to this Kopaja. For more info related to Kopaja routes, you can see this link.

Kopaja and Metromini are public transportation with the cheapest tariff in Jakarta. It cost IDR 2,000 per trip. It was the same tariff as Busway for trip during 06-07 AM. So, it would be much saving compare of taking taxi ^^

From Gambir, i took the airport bus (DAMRI) to Soekarno Hatta International airport. I have a flight from Jakarta to Semarang on 19.30 PM. So, i must save my time to avoid any flight cancellation due to my late show for check in.

Airport bus is one of my favorite option to save transportation cost. its cost only IDR 20K. We usually spent around IDR 100K-IDR 150K for single trip from airport to central Jakarta (Sudirman-Thamrin). This bus not only stand by at Gambir, but also some area such as Blok M (Near Blok M Plaza), Rawamangun, Lebak Bulus and Kampung Rambutan terminal, Tanjung Priuk, Bekasi and Bogor.

Alhamdulillah. I arrived at airport around 6 PM. After check in and met with my travelmate, i came to musholla for praying Maghrib. And what next?? Flight delay for an hour #fiuh. It causing us having so late arrival at Semarang, but luckily we got the last taxi and heading us to Banyumanik.

The bride had booked Arsonia Guesthouse for us. So, we can directly have a shower and take a rest that nite. We don't have a dinner nor such a restaurant or food hall near the guesthouse to relieves it. But it was nothin', since we just fall a sleep so tightly.

September 10, 2011
The Wedding

Mornin'..it's time for the wedding hohohoo...the wedding itself comprises from 3 main arrangement,
1) Midodareni - it was a Javanese culture. Such a ritual, a night before the wedding (akad). Javanese believes that at that night, an angel or a fairy princess from Paradise will be came to the Bride's home to share their beauty and perfection.
2) Akad - Ijab Qabul. A statement from the brides to unconditionally accept the others as their soul-mate with some Mahar such as Praying equipment, money, gold or etc. This ceremony held on Nenek's home at Griya Banyumanik Asri.
3) Wedding reception - Walimatun'Nikah. Reception was held in Pondok Serrata Hotel, Semarang.

Happy wedding Nenek..wish u happily ever after!!!!

After the wedding reception, i have a spare time before takin the bus to Jakarta. I was thinkin' to have a short "adventure" in this city, but since nothin' left after my last visit, i decided to join Kakek (who's too late to attend the wedding)with the "Jancukers" aka BIB - whatever they called themselves get back to Pondok Serrata Hotel and having so late brunch at the Food Fest.

Food fest is food court comprises various menu from local and western cuisine. But most of us took the local cuisine. Prices for all food and beverages here around IDR 5,000-20,000.

After finishing our brunch, Ulfa (my travelmate) and Ita (roommate) would joined the Jancukers to stay at Pondok Serrata before leavin Semarang tomorrow morning. And me..just cross the street in front of Tembalang cross over (align with the Ungaran's street or just cross the street in front of Pondok Serrata Hotel)and taking public transportation (Mikrolet C10 - Orange colour) which is having route as Johar - Dr.Cipto - Java Mall - Tanah Putih - Banyumanik. I will take the overnite bus PO Nusantara from the bus office stated around Dr. Cipto street.

Actually this mikrolet didn't pass through the PO Nusantara Bus Office, but i asked the driver to drop me and paid more than it should be, but trust me it still affordable.

I arrived at Dr. Cipto (in front of SMK 1) Semarang around 06 PM. I have to wait till departure time which is estimated would be on 7 PM. The office itself quite empty, hence i decided to move on and seeking the near Musholla to have Maghrib and found it at the nearer gas station. There's not only musholla but also a huge ATM station..hhohohoo..i have run out my money ^^

I'm heading to the bus office around 6.30 PM. Some of the passengers just arrived and filling the waiting room by holding their ticket. Since i'll doing solo travelling this nite, i just came by and have a seat in the last row. Passing each second in such a places by just looking around till finally i figure out that most of the passengers came and reported to the receptionist when they arrived and got such a stamp or notes on their ticket. And guess what, i thought that my ticket is totally different from them. I dont know anythin' bout this ticket since i got it through Mbak Lia, my boardinghouse's mate. And, tonite was my first time having an overnite bus trip from Semarang.

Finally, i've confirmed to the receptionist and knowing that i have enter the wrong bus office #damn. My bus provider is PO Nusantara while this office is for Pahala Kencana. Hahahahah...so, i take a short walk towards PO Nusantara Office. The office was crowded when i found it. After have confirming my ticket, i try to have a seat when i found such a box for recharging our mobile phone. I dont know, i just saw it and feel amaze. Here in Indonesia?? maybe you will think i'm a nerd. But really, i never ever see it. It was a box with the same size as ATM Machince with have several partition like a small bookshelves that fill in with the various mobile charger. Each partition have a lock door to mitigate risk of being stolen. I think its cool!!

My bus delayed for an hour and got me to taste the warm green bean soup to boost my mood #halah..Finally, i've touchdown Jakarta (Rawamangun bus terminal) at 5.30 AM. It was a smooth trip, i fall asleep a moment after departure and no such traffic along the trip (or maybe i have no awareness about it since i've been sleepin'). After having Shubuh, i take Ojek to busway shelter and continue heading drom Layur towards Bendungan Hilir.

Good morning Jakarta, keep smile and welcoming me back on Car free day. Fresh air plus no traffic spreading the happiness to start this sunny day ^^

What a really short trip, but enhance me to keep the spirit of "Part time auditor, full time traveller"

Info;
Kopaja 20 (Kuningan - Gambir ) : IDR 2,000
Airport Bus (DAMRI) : IDR 20K
Airport tax : IDR 40K
Flight Jak-Semarang : IDR 400K (Sriwijaya Air)
Taxi (A. Yani airport, Semarang - Banyumanik) : IDR 85K
Mikrolet AC 10 from Banyumanik - Dr. Cipto : IDR 10K
PO Nusantara - VIP Bus, Semarang-Jakarta : IDR 250K
Ojek (Rawamangun - Busway Shelter ) : IDR 5,000
Busway (Layur - Halimun - Dukuh atas - Bendungan Hilir) : IDR 2,000

House of Arsonia

Dimas Haryo Nogoseno
Phone : 0857 4211 5161, 0852 2798 0004
Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan No.40, Banyumanik
Semarang, Telp. (024) 747 2340

Pondok Serrata Hotel

See below picture as your reference^^
or visit http://pondokserratasemarang.com/