New Travel Blog Series: Guide to Hong Kong

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Alist

After I completed my long and exhausting posts about Panduan Jalan Hemat ke Eropa (Europe Travel Guide), I suddenly felt lost of motivation to blog. My aim was achieved by writing about 18 pages of travel guide to european cities, of course in Indonesian language. While English translation is still in hold, I don’t have power again to write.

And then I set a new target again to write the other guides, this time is about Panduan Jalan Hemat ke Hong Kong – Macau, and will be followed by Panduan Jalan Hemat ke Shanghai in future.

Wow, suddenly got my motivation back, but this time must be controlled because recently I’m very busy in work and busy to sit my baby daughter in home. Sigh..

Okay, just read them, and hope you’ll get useful information.

Jakarta Street Map now available in Google Map

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Alist

It seems that Google is working really hard to make its Google Map accessible to everyone, even for Indonesian. As I check today, Google Map now showing Jakarta street map in detail, including offering driving direction if possible.

Jakarta streets (as we know) is messy and very narrow in some places, in Google Map it displays road that car-passable by 2 lane (not ‘Jalan Tikus’).

Inline with the coming of iPhone 3G to Indonesia brought by Telkomsel, using Google Map inside iPhone (GPS) or iPod Touch (wifi based) will be very handy and useful if you live in Jakarta and surroundings.

Acqua Alta in Venezia

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Alist

Jakarta flood… arghh that make us inconvenience. This last two weeks proves to us that governor does nothing. Traffic jams, car breaking, and don’t forget about big holes in every roads.

But in Venice (Venezia), Italy, atol-made city that is known as water-city, is also suffered from acqua alta (high water) these days. Although it is a nature disaster, higher water can be categorized as flodd and means we are into a doom era where global warming has been taking place. At some parts, sea-level water in Venice reaches 123cm high. Yes, Venice is sinking! The phenomenon occurs mainly between fall and spring but not every year.

See different in normal condition (my own photo taken last year) and high water condition (7 Feb 09, by Associated Press) in bay area in front of San Marco Square. (Sorry, no blank picture, this is what I have – including me & wife in photo)

Venice normal

In this condition, travelling and staying in Venice will be a bit tough since vaporetto (water-bus) might not be operated on schedule, guests tend to stay in hotels all the time, in short: tourism is suspended.

E-Toll Card: a new way to pay Toll Road fee in Jakarta

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Alist

As recently I traveled across Jakarta using inner-circle toll road (a.k.a Jalan Tol Dalam Kota), I noticed that stickers on toll gates promoting E-Toll Card as a new mean of payment. Although no device installed in those gates, I assumed that it would be implemented soon.

Jasa Marga E-Toll Card

E-Toll Card is issued by Jasa Marga as response to simplity and quick payment on the gates. It works as other contactless cards like BCA Flazz or Gazcard, just tap it on its reader in toll gate then you can go. But in Jasa Marga procedure, you have to hand the card to gate staff, then he/she will determine your vehicle class, he taps to the reader and give you back the card with receipt.

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A Short Walk to Taman Menteng

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Alist

Last week I got a chance to visit Taman Menteng (Park) located in the very heart of Menteng District. It is a nice, free and interactive park, a place you can breath fresh air in Central Jakarta.

It used to be a football stadium for Persija Football club, got demolished during Sutiyoso Governor era after some struggles and demonstrations. The result? You can see in my photos; a neat and clean park.

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Standing with Stars

Posted on October 21, 2008 by Alist

When it comes a chance of a lifetime, then you’d better to grab it. Just like I got a chance to stand side-by-side with Andy Lau.

Apparently we’re in same body height, but sadly different waist size

Yepp, by inspecting carefully you’ll notice that it is a wax figure. Picture taken in Madame Tussauds HK in which displays many important Chinese and world figures, from Jacky Chan to Bruce Lee.

And now how about photograph with a star who just released Capricorn album, the one and only Jay Chou?

TransJakarta Busway Map

Posted on February 28, 2007 by Alist

Got this from somewhere. Enjoy Jakarta Busway Map (Peta Rute Busway TransJakarta)

As today (Dec 08), Jakarta has 7 lines / corridors of Busway. Ticket fare is still IDR 3,500 per trip to anywhere including many connections. They plan to raise ticket fare on 2009 along with new lines opening to IDR 5000-6000, or if they can implement smart card / touch card (like Oyster Card or EZ-link) then I believe they want to charge you on distance basis.

New planned corridor route for 2009 and blog can be found at my latest post here.