Day 3 - part 1 : Wishy washy day in Tokyo

17 May 2012

Our 2nd day in Tokyo.
Barely disappointed with the 1st day, unfortunately we have a very very tight schedule for today. Starting with refresh our mind through have a short sightseeing in Ueno Park (only famous during Cherry Blossom) that i thought it was so oldish, tasting a bit of religious view mixed with experiencing Japan souvenir market in Tokyo by visiting Sensoji temple and Nakamise street in Asakusa area. Have a short landing in Yokohama just to try one of the thrilling coaster at Cosmoworld. And unfortunately, we must take out Odaiba from our itinerary.

Here we go!!! Asakusa area. I dont know why, but we have regained our spirit of travelling after reaching Asakusa area. So many people heading in and out through the Kaminarimon gate. The Red giant pillar welcoming our arrival. Most of visitor taking a picture here, including domestic tourist that mostly Japanese student.



Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street - Asakusa, Photo by : Fafa & Abang

 Interesting place to visit in Asakusa are Sensoji temple and Nakamise street. Sensoji is one of famous temple in Tokyo. This temple area also become central of certain "matsuri" (art and religion ceremony) in Japan. For example, Sanja Matsuri will be held on 20 July 2012 this year. Unfortunately, we have leavin Tokyo at that date. While, Nakamise street is a market street that have many Japanese souvenir and snacks. Even, most of snack's wrapping are so nice and eye catching. As a gift for family and friends, I've got wind chime, Japanese toys, post card and portable ashtray.  

Next, the oldish Ueno Park. We decided to visit this place based on CK recommendation as some interesting places in Japan that can be visited for free. And in my opinion, you got nothing for free. And it was true. For me, it's just another park hiding inside the metropolis. Wide area that wrapped naturally by botanical magnificent, statue and some Japanese ornament such as temple and shrine. This place become the most wonderful during cherry blossom. But for foreigner as us who just visited Japan on May, its just an ordinary park.

One of best view in Ueno Park during cherry blossom captured by Takbir on his blog

Move on from Ueno Park we decided towards Shinjuku, one of Tokyo Hub area. We have to find out Odakyu Sightseeing Centre, it was like a small counter of Tourist Information Center that offers information on sightseeing and transportation in the Japan area in English, Chinese and Korean - hence it will be more convenient for foreign travellers. This counter located inside Shinjuku station that blended with Odakyu Centre. This counter also provide services on ticket booking for buses leavin to Shizuoka such as Fujiyama, Lake Kawaguchiko, Hakone and Fujikyu Highland. As reference, see http://www.odakyu.jp/english/center/




Odakyu Sightseeing Centre


Actually there's another option for transportation to Shizuoka using JR. But, we didn't. As reference, you might check http://www.hyperdia.com/

Next, after ignoring Odaiba..let's chase the first train to Yokohama!!!!

Day 2 : Ohio Tokyo!!!!!

May 16, 2012...

Ohio Tokyo....

Yups, its 00.01 AM already hahahah... just a few minutes after passing immigration gate,  here we go.. Haneda International Airport, Tokyo!!!!!!

Actually, there's the last train departure from airport was on 23.08 PM but we decided to stay overnite at the airport and didnt make any room reservation due to the following reason; first, there's possibility that our flight would be delayed , second; avoiding taxi cost once our flight has been delayed. Third, staying overnite at airport is free of charge and as compliment we met with a "handsome policeman" hahahah...

Yups, we have a lil bit chat with the Policeman. Not because of we made some mistakes or crimes, they just asking some questions such as where we come from and what we do in Japan. They were very kind and polite ^^

After decided to have a shalat inside the Toilet (even it's only the toilet, since we were in Japan, there are a huge free space inside and very clean!!! furthermore its not directly face the toilet room), we put our luggage along side the waiting room, have a seat and some of us actually trying to fall asleep. And me, starting to put attention on finding my way to my own Neverland (Read : Tottori) by having an occasional free rental "G-Tab" from Emak and some inquiry to information centre at the airport. And i got it, huh!!!

And here we are, after the first experience of sun rising in Japan, and referring to the famous travel book written by one of Indonesian traveller (Claudia Kaunang), we left Haneda International Airport using Keikyu Line embedded with Toei two-day pass that can be used for all Toei route within two days. First destination, Anne Hostel Asakusabashi located near Asakusabashi station.

Its hard on dealing with Japan transportation map at the beginning, you'll understand what i mean after seeing below figures:

So, here the places we've spent most of our time that day ^_^

1st : Tsukiji Fish Market


Tsukiji Fish Market, Photo by: Fafa & Abang


2nd : Sumo and Edo Museum

Around Sumo and Edo Museum, meet with Mr. Slim Sumo ^^

3rd : Imperial Garden & Palace



Around Imperial Palace, Photo by Fafa & Abang

  4th : Tokyo Tower


Tokyo Tower at nite, brrr....



Day 1 - I ever have a dream comes true ^^

May 14, 2012, 23.15 PM

I don't know how it happens. I have no client but still, here i am in front of my lappy. Rushing over all the booking reference and travel document. The difference is.....i do it with my heart, because i said so..heheh, Yupp..because i could bear anything along this year for tomorrow.

Have you ever have a dream come true?

Actually, since i was a child, i never imagine that i will leave my hometown, Surabaya. Or even dreaming to chase the flight to cross over the countries. But this is what life mean to be, you grow up and choose your own path. You walk along the street and go through the places you've ever been.

"Life is a book. The one who never travel to another place just like livin' in the same page in their whole life."


I lived in Jakarta since October 2006, leaving my hometown just for somethin' called money. Yeah money, for livin, livin' others and return ticket for every places i want to be.

And tomorrow, once again i take my courageous to create a footnote to the land of my favorite Anime Character, Conan Edogawa.

Tokyo, the most crowded place where SMU Teitan stood up, a place where Ran Mouri and Shinichi Kudo grew up and fall in love, where the most incREDibles Detective SMU tighten with every case and finally facing the most Fabulous enemy in his life - The Last Wizard of This Century, Kaito Kid.

Yokohama, the amazing "seaside town" along Minatomirai port. Presenting magical view  with combination of both port and town it-selves at night. One of the places that i will miss the most.

Fuji, the great mountain that smile over the Shizuoka downtown. Where both the most thrilling roller coaster buried inside Fujikyu Highland while the most wonderful view of mountainsides scenery lay down.

Kyoto, wonderful town that full of originality. A  place where geisha becoming an icon of art, when tradition always stood up among diversity and survive over modernity.
 
Nara, peaceful place that drawn up front of Japan landmark. Where tradition, culture, education and ecology wrapped up under sincerity. A place that bring you to another place that might be one of your "Home". Where the Deer's run smoothly, smile..just like saying "Welcome to Nara...."

Osaka, not so-interested town actually. But, this is the place where Heiji Hattori famous as both Kendo player and Detective SMU from Kansai. A place where he met his soulmate, Kazuha Toyama.

And the last one, Tottori. A place that could make me feel like trying to find my own Neverland, where something that previously livin' in my imagination anonymously pop-up into real life, Conan Town. A small prefecture in Japan that hiding one of the most awesome landscape over the Japan Curiosity, Tottori Sakyu (Tottori Sands Dunes).

Wednesday, 15 May 2012

And here i am, at Terminal 3 of Soekarno Hatta Airport accompanied with my lovely backpack and absolutely my lovely brother, Abang heheheh...

Our trip to Japan started with flight to Kuala Lumpur, transit for around 4-5 hours in KL and then arrived in Haneda International Airport, Tokyo around midnite. We have set up our meeting point with some of our travel partner from Surabaya at MaryBrown LCCT, Kuala Lumpur.

A cheerful looks spread up among us knowing that the journey just begun \^^/


And the most excitement, agaiiiin....screwed up upon our arrival at Haneda International Airport. We don't care if its midnite already. We don't mind eventually what we missed already, what we knew and understand that time...this trip will create another new pages in our book of life. So, on travelling i just wanna say "Don't think too much, just do it!!!"

Again..i miss the Big Day

Hari ini, 21 April 2012

Hari Kartini,
Perempuan Indonesia yang luar biasa.


“Tiada awan di langit yang tetap selamanya. Tiada mungkin akan terus-menerus terang cuaca.
sehabis malam gelap gulita lahir pagi membawa keindahan. kehidupan manusia serupa alam”
― Kartini - Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang



Hari ini juga, saya mencoba untuk menjadi perempuan luar biasa.
Sekali lagi saya mencoba, hanya mencoba.
Mencoba menebus dosa sembilan tahun lalu.
Mencoba menepati janji saya tiga tahun yang lalu.
Yah..hari ini saya mencoba menapakkan kaki di Universitas Indonesia, turut serta dalam ujian saringan masuk Program Profesi Akuntansi
yang notabene membuat saya tidak lagi mengenal apa yang sebenarnya saya inginkan.
Dan tanpa usaha sedikitpun, tanpa belajar sesuatu pun, tiga jam itu saya lewatkan bersama tiga lembar jawaban komputer bersama kalkulator lengkap dengan pensil 2B.
Lucu memang, mengingat saya selalu ingin jadi dokter sejak kecil.
Dalam mencoba kali ini, saya hanya punya satu pertanyaan, akankah bertahan?



Dan karena mencoba itulah, saya melewatkan hari besar salah seorang sahabat saya di bangku kuliah.
Sebut saja, Marisa. Kawanku yang sangat muslimah ini akhirnya menemukan imam dalam hidupnya.
Senang, sebel, terharu tapi juga iri.
Masih ingat waktu semasa kuliah, dia berkata "I'm 23, with no job and no boyfriend!!!"
Hahahha, sekarang kondisi berbalik...you move on girls =)
Doaku sama dengan yang laen, semoga Dia akan menjadi imam untukmu dalam kehidupan di dunia maupun di akhirat nanti.

Disisi lain, saat ini saya tengah berada di "You-Know_Where" dan dengan culas mencuri waktu untuk membuat postingan ini.
Memainkan jari di atas keyboard dengan setengah nyawa.

Pre-visit "Tottori" - Visa Jepang

"Don't be too exited over anything, it would be hurt once its suddenly gone."

Huuhuuu...Aq sudah lupa dari novel mana aku mendapatkan kutipan itu. Yang jelas it happens!!!

Masih dalam euforia "Patronus" untuk melewati peak season tahun ini, saya memutuskan untuk mengambil cuti di bulan Maret (Hweee, auditor bisa cuti di bulan Maret #winkwink) dan menyempatkan diri pulang ke Surabaya untuk mengurus visa. Yups, pembuatan Visa kunjungan ke Jepang harus dilakukan berdasarkan wilayah yurisdiksi masing-masing (sesuai KTP). Untuk informasi lengkapnya bisa cek disini Nah,  untuk warga Surabaya seperti saya hanya bisa dilakukan di Konsulat Jenderal Kedutaan Jepang di Surabaya (Konjen Surabaya) yang berlokasi di Jl Sumatera No. 93 Surabaya.

Proses pengurusan visa juga lumayan cepat, yakni maksimum empat hari kerja dari tanggal pengajuan. Cuman, karena jatah cuti saya terbatas dan sengaja di keep buat the BIG Day. So, saya minta tolong saudara buat ngurusin, coz after nanya temen2 yang udah pernah ke Jepang dan blog walking kanan kiri, pengurusan visa dapat diwakilkan. Itung-itung meminimalisir resiko kalau nantinya ada dokumen atau persyaratan yang kurang bisa sekalian dilengkapi.

Usut punya usut, hari pertama saudara saya datang ke Konjen harus menelan kekecewaan lantaran ditolak. Alasannya banyak:

• Pertama, Foto untuk visa ga boleh pake kacamata, dan backgroud putihnya kurang cerah, agak abu-abu gtu deh karena saya cuman foto nempel tembok. OK, alasan ini saya bisa terima
• Kedua, lampiran rekening koran 3 bulan terakhir saya dibilang ga boleh pake print-out internet banking. Harus buku tabungan yang di print. (Yang ini agak gak make sense, secara beberapa bulan sebelumnya temen kuliah saya menggunakan dokumen serupa untuk mengurus visa yang sama, visa Jepang)
• Ketiga, formulir yang saya pake bukan yang update. Yang ini memang kesalahan saya, formulir saya download beberapa bulan sebelumnya dan dengan Pede-nya saya tidak pernah mengecek lagi ke situs Konjen. 

Okay, that's yang harus dikoreksi dari yang pertama. Esok harinya, saudara saya kembali lagi ke Konjen dan lagi-lagi ditolak dengan alasan yang berbeda. Saudara sempat kesel dan sebel, hingga akhirnya saya memutuskan untuk menelepon Konjen dari Jakarta untuk mengetahui detail penolakan berkas.

• Pertama, Saldo tabungan tidak cukup. What the????? begitulah, saldo di anggap kurang mencukupi, namun begitu saya tanya via telepon berapa minimal saldo dianggap mencukupi, petugas enggan memberitahukan nominal pastinya, aneh kan (gondok to the max)
• Kedua, karena saya belum pernah ke Jepang, pengurusan visa saya lakukan sendiri, dan belom pernah ada kunjungan ke negara lain yang menggunakan visa petugas menyarankan saya untuk menggunakan jasa travel agency (makin ga masuk akal kan???)

Walhasil saudara saya yang notabene cewek makin sesenggukan and kesal. Demikian pula halnya dengan saya sendiri. Alasan penolakan seolah dibuat-buat. Maksud hati, biar nanti pas pulang tinggal ambil visa yang udah approved, nah kok jadi begini???

Langkah terakhir, pas pulang saya memutuskan untuk datang sendiri ke Konjen, membawa berkas yang sama dengan tambahan copy SPT tahun berjalan, slip gaji 3 bulan terakhir plus kartu nama (hahahha), buat mitigate risk yang aneh2, apalagi denger cerita (plus bukti ngomong via telepon) klo mbak petugasnya nyebelin abis. Nah kok, suasananya totally different ya???

Begitu parkir dan memasuki pos penjagaan, petugas menyuruh saya menitipkan ID dan semua barang bawaan termasuk barang berharga (laptop, HP, dompet) di pos penjagaan dan dimasukkan kedalam semacam deposit box. Jadi saya hanya membawa berkas yang diperlukan. Sesampainya di loket pengurusan visa, saya mengambil antrian dan menunggu bersama yang lain. Tidak begitu lama, nomor antrian saya dipanggil dan dengan ramah mbak2 petugasnya melayani saya (nah lo???). Dari suaranya, saya kenal betul itu suara yang sama dengan Si Mbak yang ngomel ke saya di telepon, tapi yasudah lah ya...

Berkas-berkas saya diperiksa sambil sekali dua kali Si Mbak melontarkan pertanyaan mengenai tempat kerja saya dan dengan siapa saya bepergian. Dan, you know..That's it!!! Si Mbak mengambil berkas dan menggantinya dengan no pengambilan visa untuk 4 hari kedepan..Cihuy...

So, intinya setelah mengurus visa sendiri, kesan yang saya dapatkan adalah Bikin Visa Jepang itu gampang =)
Dan benar saja, 4 hari kemudian Visa sudah di tangan lengkap dengan izin 15 hari tinggal di Jepang untuk dalam kurun waktu 3 bulan ke depan. Tottori.............i'm comin!!!!!

*) Mungkin saudara saya kurang beruntung saja..maaphkeun aq ya Dhek, but thanks a lot for your assistance.



Prosedur pengurusan visa juga tidak begitu sulit, cukup isi formulir, bikin pas photo terbaru sesuai ukuran visa yang dibutuhkan, terus lampirkan beberapa hal berikut (untuk tujuan wisata):

1. Paspor.
2. Formulir permohonan visa. [download disini]dan Pasfoto terbaru (ukuran 4,5 X 4,5 cm, diambil 6 bulan terakhir dan tanpa latar, bukan hasil editing, dan jelas/tidak buram)
3. Foto kopi KTP (Surat Keterangan Domisili)
4. Fotokopi Kartu Mahasiswa atau Surat Keterangan Belajar (hanya bila masih mahasiswa)
5. Bukti pemesanan tiket (dokumen yang dapat membuktikan tanggal masuk-keluar Jepang)
6. Jadwal Perjalanan [ download disini] (semua kegiatan sejak masuk hingga keluar Jepang)
7. Fotokopi dokumen yang bisa menunjukkan hubungan dengan pemohon, seperti kartu keluarga, akta lahir, dlsb. (Bila pemohon lebih dari satu)
8. Dokumen yang berkenaan dengan biaya perjalanan:

• Bila pihak Pemohon yang bertanggungjawab atas biaya  - Fotokopi bukti keuangan, seperti rekening Koran atau buku tabungan 3 bulan terakhir (bila penanggung jawab biaya bukan pemohon - seperti ayah/ibu, maka harus melampirkan dokumen yang dapat membuktikan hubungan dengan penanggung jawab biaya).
•  Bila pihak Pengundang yang bertanggungjawab atas biaya - a) Surat Jaminan [ download here] b) Dokumen yang berkenaan dengan pengundang seperti tercantum di bawah ini (salah satu saja)

Info lengkap: visit http://www.id.emb-japan.go.jp