Trip to Padang, Bukit Tinggi and Batusangkar, Nov 12-14, 2012

I had a business trip 2 weeks ago to West Sumatera. I left Jakarta on Nov 11 evening and left Padang on Nov 14 afternoon.
I visited three cities: Padang (the capital city of West Sumatera), Bukit Tinggi and Batusangkar (my mom's home town).


From Jakarta to Padang, I took airplane (1 hour 50 minutes), Garuda Indonesia. From Padang to Bukit Tinggi, it takes 3 hours drive. From Bukit Tinggi to Batusangkar takes 1.5 hours drive. Noooo I didn't drive by myself, I rented a car and a driver included in the fee. It was IDR 500,00 per day, not included petrol, park , and driver's meal allowance.

I stayed at Pangeran Beach Hotel Padang (IDR 700,000 per night). The hotel is 4 star but my room looked so old. The shower head was broken I had to call their house keeping and they changed the shower head with new one.
In Bukit Tinggi, I stayed at Grand Rocky Hotel (IDR 750,000 per night). It was a brand new hotel, around 7 months old. I like it. My room was at the corner.

Room at Grand Rocky Hotel

Fog in the morning, taken at 6.29 AM

The fog picture was taken at 6.29AM. It was view from my hotel room in Bukit Tinggi. At 7.30 AM, I looked out of my window and was very suprised to see how the fog was even thicker, then arpund 8.30 AM it was clear again.

The town is near Mount Singgalang and Mount Merapi and a canyon. I didn't have time to visit Ngarai Sianok, the canyon.

Jam Gadang

The big clock is the landmark of Bukit Tinggi.

This place is located across the Big Clock (Jam Gadang)

And the food is called Padang Satay. Made of beef or sometimes cow's tongue. Eaten with solid rice cake and hot spicy sauce.

We have a heritage family house in Batusangkar. I have an auntie lives there to take care of the old house.

I will do some more posts on day by day activities. Please enjoy this post first :)

Photos reposting

Oh My! I've just found out that my posts in Year 2008 lost their pictures. I linked the pictures from my invalid Friendster blog. Because it's gone, so do the pictures I posted in that blog.

I'm going to re-post the pictures gradually. Stay tune!

Makassar Trip, March 19-22, 2012

It's been quite sometime since my last visit to Makassar. Probably around five years.
I went to Makassar again on March 19-22, 2012.
My flight was in the evening, 16.50 WIB, by Garuda Airlines. Ummph, the meal wasn't good.
When I arrived at the airport and looked for taxi, it was raining heavily with big wind!
I asked taxi driver to take me to local restaurant to get some light food before I get my rest in the hotel.
He took me to Sup Bersaudara. Wow, hot soup during cold night, what a treat! I had half portion of rice and shrimp crackers to eat with the soup, plus sweet hot tea. It was only IDR 22,000!
Sup Bersaudara looks and taste like Cotto Makassar, the broth is thick with spice. Yummmm


I stayed at Imperial Arya Duta Hotel. Arrived in the hotel around 23.30 WITA.
Hotel Aryaduta Makassar (http://www.aryaduta.com/hotels_home_makassar.php)

Jl. Somba Opu No. 297
Makassar 90111, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
T. +62 411 870 555 F. +62 411 870 222

My room was facing the ocean view. What I liked about it was the restaurant opens for 24 hours!


To be continued..............

Grand Antares Hotel, Medan (Trip Dec 2-3, 2011)

Last week I supported my colleagues from other division at a seminar for O.R. nurses. The seminar was held at Grand Antares Hotel (http://grandantares.com/).
I stayed there for one night (Dec 2, 2011) at superior room. The rate was unbelievable: IDR 350,000 breakfast included! The room was booked by organizing committee.
The room was clean, a bit old, and the bathroom curtain needs to change with new onw, but overall, it was OK.
I had a body massage in my room to relieve body pain I've been having due to my cough and flu. It cost IDR 150,000 for one hour.
I liked the dessert menu where they serve various of Es Campur :)
This hotel is owned by an orthopedic surgeon, wow!!

Breakfast menu was so so..... The lunch during seminar was a chaos... Too many people, the restaurant wasn't able to accommodate. The food were quickly empty.....

Overall, it was an OK experience..... The last night, I stayed at grandma's house.

Travel project, starting in 2011

In my new business community, we are taught to have a dream book, to list down our dreams there and learn to visualize. One of my dreams has been travel around the world, that's why I have this blog to record my experience. I'm grateful that God has given me opportunity to work at companies that sent me overseas for trainings.

One of my goals: Travel around the world in 80 days, just like the book written by Jules Verne.... Hmm maybe longer, lol

I will post about the destinations I want to go gradually in this blog.