The beauty of Jiuzhaigou

A wonderful color of Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou, I read about it once. Saw the picture once. And i fall in love with this place forever. Located in Sichuan Province, Chengdu - China, this place are highly recommended for all natural scenery lovers. Maybe some of you have watched Chinese Kungfu series and movie, theme on that movies mainly taken or inspired by this place. 

It tooks around 8 hours from Xinnanmen Bus Station, Chengdu to this place. Its a long way to go, but its more than just worth it. I booked my ticket one day before to save my schedule. Bus departed around 8 Am and arrived in Jiuzhaigou at 4. You have to spend minimum 3 days to enjoy this place, unless you take a flight. Two days for traveling time and one full day for sightseeing. The area is very huge, if you have more time, its better to stay longer. 

I met with Victor, a russian guy, at bus station. I run into him since i cant escape from the locals who force me to stay at their place.  We ended up to stay at the same hostel, the same dormitory and spend a few hours outside Jiuzaighou before take a rest and get ready to explore tomorrow.  But some people join us at the dormitory, 2 chinese students who bring along a friends guy that soon being my travelmate in Chengdu. 

Its Li Xie and Siao Yue. The two brilliant student from Shanghai, they just graduated and got scholarship in US. So, they want to have this trip before leaving their country. While the French guy, JP, he met Li Xie through CS and plan to have this trip together, surprisingly he plan to stay at the Friendshouse in Chengdu. So we will meet again soon!! 

Victor went out earlier in the morning, lucky for him because its raining when the four us get ready to enter the park. But we never give up, we got our umbrella and raincoat and always ready to chase the best scenery ever. And i thought most of the visitor feel the same way, because the entrance ticket are very crowded at that time. The entrance ticket is expensive, and we envy with those chinese students who got 50% discount at most of the chinese tourism spot. Should i study in China then? 

Every single step of the park was beautiful, very beautiful and the most beautiful. Hahahha.. forestry, small river, wooden bridge, running waterfall, its stunning view everywhere, anywhere. But yeah, the best thing is never easy, even tracking for the whole day seems not enough to reach the whole park. 

The best place for take a rest, JP - Xiao Yue and Li Xie

Me

Me Me Me hahahaha

The wooden bridge and the hills

The waterfall

Its JP - French

Swan Lake

Stunning ^^

Victor - Russian

The Unexpected Journey, Chengdu 2014

On my sister's bday, 9 May 2014

"So what's Allah blessing would you deny?? "

Its a gift.
That's what i always talk to myself at that time. After a long craving for holiday, finally i got one. A short one, but one of the best i ever had.

Always expect the unexpected. After a short of approval from my boss, i just want to fly away somewhere. Pack some stuff on my backpack and regain my conciousness to check what i already have at that time. And here the things:

1. A passport, accompanied with China Visa.
Visa valid until 30 June 2014. This one have been abandoned for a long time since my plan for visiting Tibet being cancelled.
2. One way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu, China.
Departed a day after tomorrow ( 11 May 2014). But unfortunately, the name shown at the ticket is not exactly the same name with my passport. FYI, i joined membership using my current father's name while my passport using my late father's name. 
3. Return ticket from Jakarta - Kuala Lumpur (8 May 2014 - 22 May 2014).  
Yeah, i should be in KL yesterday but here i am, Working. And it supposed to be a long holiday that for real, it never happened.

Thinking about do some mountain hiking, but come on, i have almost a week to spent and only Rinjani (Lombok) is worth enough to spend with. And finally i ended up with the famous quotes in my head.

DONT THINK, JUST GO!!!

So i found a cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur for tomorrow night (Lion Air - IDR 300K). And what next?? Nothing.

A day after, i found myself at the new malaysian airport, KLIA2. A huge and nice one. Blend with many travellers, share the same floor (literally floor) to spend the night and do some research through free wifi on "what should i do next" or maybe "where should i go after leavin this airport?"

Some friends ask me through some social media, "Where are you going?"
And helplessly i found that i have no answer on that, because i dont know.

Maybe going overland through Malaysian teritory like Melaka, Langkawi, Johor Bahru or Sabah will be not that bad, or lets make a try with my China's ticket. And surely, the last option sounds much much better. Lets make a try!!!

I do the web check in, and submit my document to the counter. Passed!!! But its not the end, i have to pass the immigration officer. And again, passed!!! Succeed??? Not yet, i have to show my passport and ID before boarding to the plane, and its successfully made my heart beat racing like a horse.

This is the point.

And lately, i already seated next to the union of Chinese people who's talk a lot about their plan to visit Tibet. Yeah, I made it!!! Welcome to Chengdu...

Upon my arrival, there's another problem coming. Where should i go? Luckily, i still have a request to couchsurfing member in Chengdu and agreed to have a visit soon upon my arrival. It said that i have to take the airport bus to reach the main city, so i pass the exit door and practically i become and alien since none there can understand what i'm saying till i found a small counter saying that it was Tourist Information. Thanks God!!!

I have to take the bus no 1 to reach NiJiaXiao area (My CS's friend place) with cost around 10 Yuan, but i decided to buy Chinese mobile card incl. internet package with cost 150 Yuan ( expensive, but i found that its really helpful later).

I take the bus, get off at NiJiaXiao with the help of Chinese Character written by the staff at tourist information. Next, i got lost for almost an hour,  starving and truly become alien at this town. I have shown the address to some people who's passing by and each of them have different direction. OK, just kill me then (kidding). I called my CS's friend but she cant lead me well since i dont know where i am hahahaha

And my internet package helped. I reach their house (Their = because they are a couple), met other surfer from Germany and yeah, after loosen my back and have a shower, they invite me to join The Friend's House weekly game. What is the Friends House, i will tell you later. For now, please let me show you the gift on my first day in Chengdu.

Met many new friends, Weekend Game at The Friend's House

 How i spent the next day, i still have no idea.