Biasanya kalau saya berangkat ke luar negri, pasti sebelumnya sudah tukar mata uang negara tujuan di Indonesia. Money changer favorit saya adalah Peniti, (eh endorsement gratis nih), karena gak pake nawar lagi ratenya bisa dibilang kompetitif mendekati yang terbaik.

Tapi ada kalanya uang yang dibawa sampai sana tidak cukup akibat belanja atau pengeluaran yang melebihi perkiraan. Nah kebetulan saya punya tabungan di bank CIMB Niaga (lagi-lagi endorsement gratis), jadi coba saya share ilmunya dikit.

Btw, tarik tunai di ATM pake jaringan Maestro atau Cirrus tidak disarankan ya, selain kena spread kurs yang besar, juga kena biaya tarik tunai sekitar Rp 50rb-100rb. Apalagi tarik tunai pakai kartu kredit, BIG no-no.

1. Skyscanner

Membeli tiket pesawat sekarang sudah jamannya online. Hampir semua maskapai sudah menjual tiket lewat Internet, yang pasti sangat memudahkan kita. Tetapi akan lebih mudah lagi jika ada yang membantu kita memilih airlines yang paling murah untuk rute yang kita inginkan.

Skyscanner bekerja untuk kebutuhan ini. Cukup masukkan detil seperti destinasi dan tanggal, Skyscanner akan mencarikan airlines dan rute yang memungkinkan lalu diurutkan berdasarkan harga termurah. Kita bisa melakukan pencarian yang lebih detil seperti hanya rute direct, atau jam terbang pagi saja, dsb.

Aplikasi ini kurang lebih sama seperti Kayak (yang lebih terkenal), kelebihan Skyscanner adalah bisa mendapatkan harga low cost carrier di Indonesia seperti Sriwijaya, Lion, dan Tiger. Kelebihan lainnya adalah fiturnya untuk melakukan mix-and-match flight pergi dan pulang, jadi ada kemungkinan harga termurah didapat dari maskapai pergi dan pulang yang berbeda.

Harga: Gratis.

One of the to-do list during my visit to Barcelona was to see Barcelona FC Stadium. Well, although I am not a big fan of Spanish football, but Barcelona FC is a very successful club that as a football lover then I should spend time to visit and tour the stadium, who knows I could meet the players in parking lot :)

May be we get used to taking car to everywhere so we forget that we have reliable train network in Java. This time JavaMilk wants to have a little adventure by not taking car as usual to Bandung.

Online Booking train ticket to Bandung

To secure your seat, it is advisable to reserve and buy in advance, especially during long weekend or peak period. Online booking is available or you can check route and schedule using PT KAI Website. The easiest way to book online, then pay by credit card. Optinal way is to call 121 (021-121 from mobile), then pay using ATM machine (Mandiri, etc) or pay at convenient stores nationwide. Make sure always to book 'executive class' coach to get comfort during journey, it is seat compulsory coach, equipped with air-con, reclining seat with LCD TV for short entertainment.

Jakarta - Bandung (vv) route is served by Argo Parahyangan train, schedule run about 8 times a day. One journey will take 3 hour 33 minutes with some stop (from Gambir - Jatinegara - Bekasi - Bandung).

On my recent visit to Bandung, I wanted to give a try to stay in one of Amaris chain hotels. Amaris is budget hotel brand by Santika Group, scattered across many cities in Indonesia. The 2-star Amaris hotels, can be found in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Jogjakarta, even Ambon, published rates just below IDR 500,000 (\~USD 55). All Amaris may look the same, only three level tall, colourful design if you see hotel's facade.

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Amaris in Bandung has 2 location to choose, one is at Cihampelas Road and the other at Cimanuk Road. I always try to avoid Cihampelas as the road is packed and jammed during weekend, so Cimanuk is better option when I bring my car. I booked directly via their call centre and I got rate IDR 450,000 for one Saturday night in Amaris Cimanuk, weekday must be cheaper.

Orchard Central shopping centre is the first to claim as vertical mall in Singapore, that is growing up instead of taking space in the crowded Orchard Rd shopping street.

Take elevator up to level 11 and you will be brought into future - where all buildings should do - to plan garden …

One of the highlight when tourists visit Thailand is to ride an elephant. Phuket Island Safari, 20 minutes drive from downtown is an area that offer such experience.

A cart of two people is placed on top of elephant and 'the driver' controls movement with a kind of big needle …