I have a dream

23 October 2014

I have a dream. 

And hopefully you have one too. 

Its not a kind of dream that you keep dreaming of since you were a child, or maybe yes it is. Dont think too much, no one have to prepare a complex justification for their dream when someone asking about it. Its a dream, its not big enough if you're not scare of it. 

I almost forgotten when i started loving wandering around. Everywhere. Anywhere. But i clearly remember when i forced myself to experience the things called "solo travelling". Its scary, but addicted at the same time. And started from that scary moment, surprisingly i met with many wonderful people, share about everything and then finally i create my own scary dream. On a one fine day. Amin. 

I quit my job recently. A wonderful and fancy job for most people around me. But that fancy thing bring along the stressful day and take over almost 80% of my life. All jobs did the same i thought, so its not about the job but the choice that i made. And i choose to be happy, even only for a while. As full time traveler. 

Just once in my lifetime, I was dreaming of travel in a long long period, without any single distraction on a job things. I want to feel free and do everything i want. I met many Europeans people who traveled like one months up to two years. Yups, from a month to years. Mine, is not that long. That's not the point, but traveling in peace is all that i want. 

Its sound crazy. They will rigorously asking you with the reason you're leaving your job for a shit named traveling. I'm proud to be Indonesian, but for this i dont want to act like most of them. I wish i did not and never. 

I spent almost 2 weeks for tasting Java Trainlogy, a break and catch up with another 2 weeks ASEAN solo trip. I have to take a break, i'm literally sick girl on traveling. Thanks to my parents who love me to the fullest. Respect and support my decision and my future plan. Simply, they just want me to be happy. And this ASEAN trip, will become my first selfishness. 

The 10 cities and 5 countries within 14 days

Its not Europeans country, i don't know why but i love Asia to the most. I started from Kuala Lumpur - Ho Chi Minh - Da Lat - Mui Ne - Ho Chi Minh - Pnom Penh - Siam Reap - Bangkok - Viantiane - Vang Vieng - Luang Prabang - Bangkok - Jakarta. 

Its tiring, but wonderful. 

Have you ever have a hugs and kisses from an old lady that you just met?  even she can't speak on the same language as you but she tried. Expressing how she was being thankful. Or someone who brings you a hot tea at winter even before you introduce yourself? A happy face of strangers knowing that you are from Indonesia because they've been there and experience a great things then happily to share with others. 

Its not about the destination, but the journey that matters. 

Its not about the money, i wish i can feel those emotion. 

Its not about leaving my country and hometown, but to let myself blend with others on Indonesian's way while respecting others. 

What did i do to make it happened:

1. Be Brave. Take a risk. Nothing can substitute experience. 

Its a famous quote. Sounds silly, but you have to do it. 

2. Save your money. 

Travel needs money. And your life on your comeback needs money till you got another job. Be ready for it!!!

3. Make a plan. Just a plan, not itinerary. 

Attention to details itinerary create expectation, expecting something lead you to the brokenhearted. 

4. Release your soul. 

Just go as a child. Play around and do everything you want. 

5. Smile and share. 

Its a window of the world. 

6. Never forget the Creator. 

Keep do the prayer in any condition. Be obedience on the Lord's will. Insha Allah your trip gonna be one of the marvelous trip ever. 

What happened during the trip? Gonna tell you soon on this site. 

Keep dreaming...

"The world is not a wish granting Factory"

Solo. There's ambiguity on this word. Solo does mean "single" but also known as one of the big City in Java, Indonesia. So, the tittle has the same meaning as well. After leaving Azkaban, didn't mean i found paradise. Another Azkaban in form of sickness trapped me and got me into the fact that yeah "The world is not a wish granting factory."

I have a dream, to be true that was many. One of them is to have a real time to be a full time traveler. And that one encourage me to leave the Azkaban and i manage to do it for the past few weeks and surely on my upcoming solo trip on this early October. Having free time with no worries on job thing is kind of "a free thing" that transform into "everything" but peace. 

As i said, the world is not a wish granting factory. When i have a time, i'm not healthy and fit enough to explore just anything and everything. I got injury on my knee that made the doctor warned me not to have any excessive activity like walking, standing, running and hiking unless i take the surgery. Not only that's creepy thing, the following hard time for bed rest and recovering period just killed me all of sudden. 

But its me. Rather than taking the surgery with some reason that i couldn't tell here, i got back to my initial plan and make some rearrangement to make it wise enough for a sick, silly girl like me. Maybe its time to explore Indonesian Trainlogy, its been a long time since my first ride to Jakarta 8 years a go. 

Train in Indonesia (I prefer used Indonesian Trainlogy) has been reformed several years a go.  Especially in its operational aspect. No changes from my first ride, all of the couch are hard seat (No sleeper train available in Indonesia) and divided into three class, economic, business and executive. The main changes are 1) Air conditioner (AC) available at all classes, the difference only on the seat design and comfort 2) There's no outside snack traders allowed 3) Online booking and 3rd party booking available 4) ID card on check in gate is a must!!

I took my first rode last month during JFC and take the third, fourth and safter. Many ride for sure. Economic class. And i do love it. It reminds me a lot to my trip in India in 2012, and damn i missed the sleeper one. 

Solo - Central Java

I took Jaka Tingkir train, a weekly train leaving from Senen to Purwosari at 11 PM only on Monday. Non subside economic train that previously as additional couch during Lebaran Holiday. Economic train, no matter the distance, commonly cost 50K-65K per ride for one way journey, but this one cost IDR 95K. Unintentionally booked this train, but i love the train schedule that allowed me to have a sleep since its depart on midnight and arrived at 9 AM in Purwosari. 

Why Solo? 

Actually, my ancestor coming from Solo. My grandfather moving to Surabaya during the war, and unfortunately we never going back to Solo then. Other than that, i just want to visit one of the calming city with the hideous monarchy in Java. After Jogjakarta for sure. 

The second,  i have a mate, best friend who moved and lived here and we have not meet yet since her first baby born in Mojokerto almost 4 years a go. Hah, what kind of a friend am i? I stayed at her place, accompanied with one of my mate from Surabaya. Then, like the old days we enjoy the city. 

1. Shi Jack. 

Its kind of Angkringan Jogja with "Pure Milk" as the main favorite menu. 

2. Javareeyan Gift shop. 

Its a gift shop of course, located next to Shi Jack

3. Mie Anglo 

Noodles cooked in traditional method; like Mie Kadin in Jogja, but i prefer the one in Jogja. 

4. Sop Ayam Pak Min 

The lovely Chicken Soup that makes me want more and more. Its also available in Jakarta if i'm not mistaken. But taste this one in Central Java make it more special because of the special recipe and chef that almost original. 

Second day, we went to Keraton Surakarta, Pasar Klewer, queuing for Tengkleng but we give up then, having meatball for lunch, and Serabi Notosuman as a closing before i headed to my next destination. Yeah, its kind of marathon trip therapy. 

Madiun - East Java

I took Logawa from Purwosari to Surabaya, but finally i decided to get off at Madiun since i have another friend to visit, Nenek. She just move to Madiun for work with her baby, Hagia that not yet meet me since she was born. Poor girl hahahhah... And since i have a lot of free time, its not too much to make a visit even only in a short time. 

She took me from the Airport and drive me to her home before she went back to the office. Yeah, i came on working day and during office hour. But she promised me that its not gonna be too long and we can have our special culinary of Madiun for dinner. Nasi Pecel and Nasi Jontor. Double!!! 

I went back to Surabaya on the next day and she bought me another special culinary of Madiun, Bluder and Pecel as a gift. Arrrgh,  i love you Nenek ^^ 

So this is it, Jember, Solo, Madiun. Thanks for being friendly with my sickness during my trip therapy and hopefully i'm ready for the upcoming trip. Ganbatte!!!