Breathtaking New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND

helloo fellas!!! Soo excited to be writing again :)) 

And for now i will write in indonesian. If theres anyone who want to be translated in english, just copy my blog and paste into the google translate 😝😝

Sooo...new zealand!!! 

Siapa yang pengen ke NZ?? Ayoo angkat tangan!

Well, dari dulu NZ adalah salah satu wishlist negara yang mau aku kunjungin, dan dulu abis married pengennya babymoon ke NZ, tempatnya kaya cocok buat babymoon: tenang, damai, menyejukkan, indah, relaxing. 

Teruuuus kebetulan kita ga sengaja liat iklan bday nya airasia dan dapet diskon gila gilaan. Harga dr jakarta ke auckland PP cuma 4 jutaa blm termasuk bagasi, setelah bagasi sekitar 5.7 juta dengan bagasi 20 kg. So exciteddd. 😍😍 

Jadilah akhirnya tanpa pikir panjang, kita langsung cuuuus beliiiii tiketnya. Dan kenapa kita belinya di bulan july? Karna....

Well, kita kan belinya di bln jan. dan kita mikirnya seandainya ak hamil plg tepat itu pegi di bln jul. 

soalnya dulu mikirnya kalo beli buat maret/april terus ternyataaaa hamil kan trismester pertama masi rentan jd ga disarankan untuk pegi karna kandungan masi lemah, dan kalo pegi sept/oct takutnya kalo brneran hamil kan itu due date nya. Jadiiiiii kita decide buat beli d bln july supaya kalo emg ternyata ntar hamil ya aman. 

Walo belakangan kita tau dr SPOG Calvin Tjong kalo hamil trismester pertama dan kedua ga masalah buat travel, kecuali trismester ketiga. Dan beberapa teman dan sahabat jg mengatakan hal yg sama. (Hal ini diketahui setelah pembelian tiket) 

Setelah pembelian tiket, kita ajak dua sahabat kita (aku dan suami) supaya makin seru! 

Then, kita akhirnya mulai bikin itinerary (jadwal perjalanan) 

Inilah itin yang kita buat, pertama ak bikin itin summary mau ke kota mana aja, mau ke mana aja dan mau makan apa aja lalu kita liat peta di google earth dan google map secara detail jd tadaaaa ini itin nya: 

 

Day	Date	City	Place to Visit	Note
Wednesday	12-Jul-17	Jakarta - Kuala Lumpur
Thursday	13-Jul-17	Kuala Lumpur - Auckland
Friday	14-Jul-17	Waitomo - Mata Mata - Rotorua	Waitomo Cave - Hobbiton. - Glow Worm	City Tour by Self-Driving to Rotorua
Saturday	15-Jul-17	Rotorua - Wellington	Agrodome Farm - Rainbow Spring	City Tour by Self-Driving in Rotorua
Sunday	16-Jul-17	Wellington	Zealandia - Wellington Botanical Garden	City Tour by Self-Driving in Wellington
Monday	17-Jul-17	Wellington - Christchurch - Tekapo	Christchurch - Akaroa(?) - Ashburton - Canterbury - Geraldine - Tekapo - Mt John Observatory	Travelling to Tekapo
Tuesday	18-Jul-17	Tekapo - Queenstown	Tekapo - Twizel - Mount Cook - Wanaka - Queenstown	Travelling to Queenstown
Wednesday	19-Jul-17	Queenstown - Dunedin	Queenstown - Lake Wakatipu - Te Anau - Milford Sound (Mirror Lake) - Dunedin	Travelling to Dunedin
Thursday	20-Jul-17	Dunedin City Tour - Auckland	Olveston - Larnach Castle - Otago Peninsula - St Claire - Tunnel Beach	Travelling in Dunedin (Half Day)
Friday	21-Jul-17	Auckland - Kuala Lumpur
Saturday	22-Jul-17	Kuala Lumpur - Jakarta

 Nahhhh overall buat NZ, NZ terbagi menjadi 2 island. Northern Island dan southern island. Dan berhubung NZ terkenal banget sama pemandangannya yang spektakuler jadi kita lebih banyak spent waktu di Southern yang mencakup Queenstown etc. 

Beware karena Southern jauh lebih dingin dari Northern Island jadi bs prepare winter clothes lebih banyak dan tebal. 

Tapi tetaappp, jangan underestimate weather di nothern, karna kita pas nyampe kaya ada badai kecil dan suhunya drop 7-10 C . Well, kita sampe freezing bangett kala itu. Jadi apapun yang terjadi, jangan lupa bawa baju dingin tambahan di cabin.

Bagi kalian pencinta sambal dan kecap manis, silahkan dibawa dari rumah ya, dalam bentuk sachet atau botol kecil plastik juga boleh, asal jgn terlalu banyak nanti suspicious jdnya. Karna di sana seperti eropa dan australia hanya menyediakan tomato paste, salt dan pepper saja. 

Nah untuk pencinta western, kalian bakal suka banget di sini karna makanan di sini enak enak, serius. Kecuali ada satu resto yang namanya “Best Cafe” menyediakan seafood rasanya agak ga sesuai ekspetasi, sebenernya ikannya sendiri super fresh, lembut dan enak banget. Tapi dimasaknya, sumpah biasa banget. Cuma kaya digoreng tepung kaya fish and co gt dan gada bumbu tambahan selain salt n pepper, cm untung udang saladnya berbumbu asam manis enak sih. Emang sihh negara barat beda sama negara timur bumbu masakkanya, negara timur contohnya indonesia kan kalo masak seafood berbumbu banget, ada yg dibakar pake kecap manis ato dimasak asam manis, balado, saus padang, tiram, dll dll. Kalo di negara barat ya simple aja gitu bumbunya. Jadi mesti manage expectation kalo mau makan seafood di sana, nahhh ada 1 burger terenakkkk yang pernah ak makan. Namanya FERGBURGER, dan letaknya di Queenstown. Sumpah enak banget, ga pake boong. Cuma mehong banget, sekitar 11-14NZD , cm porsinya sih gede banget. Dan maaf buat yang muslim, ini burger non halal. :(

Tapi tenang, banyak makanan di tempat lain yang ga mengandung babi. Heheheh

Nah bagi kalian yang mau info lengkap tentang restoran d  NZ yang aku cobain plus reviewnya, silahkan bisa cekidot langsung di Instagram : username: @veronicawidya88 dengan #nicatraveldiaries dan #verochanfoodiaries ❤️

Untuk transport di sana, hmm kalo di Auckland sih gampang transportnya. Banyak transportasi umum dan ga repot. Bisa dicek di : http://www.maxx.nz/ 

Nah karna NZ itu terkenal dengan pemandangannya, bukan kotanya jadi pasti selain ngunjungin Auckland kalian mau dong muter muter di kota lain. Nah untuk di kota2 lain seperti Dunedin, Queenstown gitu2 ada sih transportasi umum cuma ga selengkap di Auckland. Dan untuk transportasi antar kota, kalian bisa coba 2 option ini, yaitu: 

1 . Naik bus antar kota (www.intercity.co.nz ) 

2. Kalo terlalu jauh jarak kotanya atau mau menghemat waktu atau ga memungkinkan pake jalur darat jadi bisa naik pesawat domestik , bisa dicek di traveloka / cheap flights app/app rekomendasi kalian. Harganya oke kok. 

3. Sewa mobil. Nah untuk rental mobil bisa dicek di (www.juicy.co.nz) -> the cheapest 

Atau (www.hertz.co.nz) atau ada banyak pilihan lain bisa dicek di google. Kalo aku sendiri pake juicy dan hertz. Ehhehehe. 

Asik banget lagi, mereka kasih kita wifi dan tab buat GPS yang namanya Skoot. Cool banget ini app! Selain bisa kasih unjuk jalan, dia juga bisa sambil guide. Mantep deh! 

Nah dan kalian yang perginya pas winter, bisa sekalian sewa yang namanya SNOW CHAIN kalo pas lagi hujan salju tebal dan licin banget. 

Ini adalah itin awal yang ak bikin :

Day 1 WED/ 12 jul to KL 

Day 2 THUR/ 13 jul Auckland

Dinner at Vivace or Baduzzi or Indomie 😂

Day 3 FRI/14 jul 

Going to Waitomo (GW) - Mata Mata(Hb) City Tour to Hobbiton and Glow Worm include lunch. 

{https://www.getyourguide.com/auckland-l822/waitomo-cave-and-hobbiton-movie-set-1-day-tour-ex-aukland-t25045/} 243$/pax

Arrived at Rotorua on 06.00 pm.

Dinner at: Stratosfare  (open til 10 PM) 

Day 4 SAT/15 Jul 

Around city by bus or subway. 

To:

1. AGRODOME FARM (Farm tour 40/pax)

ADDRESS:

141 Western Road, Ngongotaha,

PO Box 634, Rotorua, New Zealand

Opening hours daily 8.30 am to 9 PM. From 11.00 pm to 14.00 pm

2. RAINBOW SPRING 

{https://www.bookme.co.nz/bookings/rotorua-taupo/activity/rainbow-springs/282} 40$/pax 

Opening hours 8.30 am to 9.30 pm

Go there from 15.00 to 18.00 pm

COMBO 69$/pax 

Dinner at: Capers Epicurean

(Open til 9PM) 

 Then going by bus to Wellington by {www.intercity.co.nz }. 

Depart on 11.05 pm. 31 nzd/pax 

Day 5 SUN/16 Jul 

Arrived at Wellington on 6.30 am.

Going to Zealandia and Wellington Botanical Garden. 

Flight 20.35- 21.35 to Christchurch. Take picture front of Christchurch Cathedral.  Overnight at Christchurch . 

Day 6 MON/ 17 Jul 

Depart from Christchurch on 7.45 am and Arrived at Dunedin on 1.40 pm ( 38$) go to Larnach Castle, Otago Peninsula, St Claire, and Tunnel Beach. 

Dinner at: 

Day 7 TUES/ 18 Jul 

Breakfast at 

Going to Olveston (20$/pax)  

must book first

ADD: 42 Royal Terrace

Dunedin 9016

NEW ZEALAND

Lunch at 

Then going to Queenstown. 

Departs 1:55 pm Dunedin - Ritchies/Intercity Travel, 7 Halsey Street (near the corner of Sturdee Street)  

Arrives 6:15 pm Queenstown - Athol St in the middle of the car park  (24$/pax) have dinner and stay at Queenstown

Day 8 WED/ 19 Jul 

Having one full day tour to Mirror Lake, Milford Sound, Lake Tekapu, Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu 

(150$/pax) depart on 06.50 am and arrived on 07.30 pm

{https://www.visitacity.com/en/queenstown/activity-details/activity/10058641/3287_ZQN}

Having dinner at gondola skyline dinner (40$/pax) TTV

{https://www.visitacity.com/en/queenstown/activity-details/activity/10015590/5320REST}

Day 9 THURSDAY/20 Jul 

Having mt cook tour to christchurch. 

Depart on 08.00 am (170$/pax or 200$/pax include lunch) 

{https://www.getyourguide.com/queenstown-l498/mount-cook-day-tour-queenstown-to-christchurch-t24341/}

arrived on 7.30 pm. Stay at christchurch 

Day 10 FRI/21 Jul 

Flight 8.40 am arrived at Auckland on 10.00 am(400k/pax) then get auckland city tour: (32$/pax)

{https://www.visitacity.com/en/auckland/activity-details/activity/10015113/3237EXBUS}

Then going to airport on 16.00 pm

Dan setelah direvisi menjadi:

Waitomo Cave - Hobbiton - Glow Worm

Agrodome Farm - Rainbow Spring

Zealandia - Wellington Botanical Garden

Christchurch - Akaroa - Ashburton - Canterbury - Geraldine - Tekapo - Mt John

Observatory

Tekapo - Twizel - Mount Cook - Wanaka - Queenstown

Queenstown - Lake Wakatipu - Te Anau - Milford Sound (Mirror Lake) - Dunedin

Olveston - Larnach Castle - Otago Peninsula - St Claire - Tunnel Beach	)
	-

Musim di New Zealand sama seperti di Australia dan Afrika, berkebalikan dengan negara Amerika dan Eropa. Yakni : dec-feb: summer; mar- may:spring; june-aug : winter; sept-nov: spring

Untuk rate dollar bisa silahkan di cek di money changer langganan masing masing karena rate nya fluktuatif. 

Untuk colokan listrik di NZ mirip colokan AC di Indo jaman dulu. Segitiga. Dengan atas : pipih diagonal kiri dan kanan, dan bagian bawah 1 pipih di tengah, semuanya dalam bentuk vertikal. Untuk lebih jelas, bisa dicek di google image :) 

Untuk akomodasi, bebas. Kalian bisa coba di hotel bintang 3-5 tergantung budget, bisa juga coba di Air BnB atau Wimdu, dan kalo mau free bisa juga di www.couchsurfing.com( cuma kalo di atas 2 org agak susah nyari host nya, dibandingkan kalo cuma solo traveler atau berdua) 

Untuk hotel sekamar strictly 2 org dan untuk BnB harganya per orang.

BnB juga nyaman banget. Bagus dan bersih, pemandangan bagus, nyaman, ada heater di kamar dan kamar mandi, oke banget deh.

Aku pribadi uda cobain 3-3nya hehehhehe. 

 

Tralala Thailand

Bangkok

Hello everyone!!!
I never been to Thailand before.
When i still work at one of travel agency in Indonesia, i never had a chance to brought the group there. But everyone keeps telling me that Bangkok is very closed to Jakarta, and cheap as well so dont bother because they said that i would have a chance to go there someday.
And yeap its true.

I decide traveling to Bangkok on Oct because my hubby would go to Korea with his coworkers on November. Then i ask one of my besties that visit Bangkok frequently since she sell Bangkok clothes in Indonesia.

So in November we went there.
Well, its super exciting back then. Why?

Firstly,
Air Ticket:
 you can find from the most affordable one to the quite expensive luxurious one.

Accommodations:
you can find somewhere luxury like hotels with wide range of prices based on budget, there re also mid range budget like BnB or Hostel or Guest House or a free one like Couchsurfing. Me myself, love to use this app. Couchaurfing, i mean. Since i joined on 2010. It was incredible and helpful as heaven!!
But since my besty never tried this app and she said that she felt insecure to sleep at a stranger house, plus she will buy many clothes and she said it would be inconvenient, so we decided to stay at cheap hotel near Pratunam Market. Its clean but very small and a bit creepy. And when she back to Jakarta, i moved to my CS Host . She was amazingly nice, she even borrowed us her mirror-less camera on the first day we arrived at Bangkok.

Foods:
omg!!!! I love the foods!! I never expecting that i would love foods here since i didn't like sour and spicy too much and i wasn't into Thai food. I proved wrong, absolutely. 😂😂
The foods were amazing tasty and they re cheap!! from the street foods that u can find almost everywhere to the world class restaurant. Love love it!!! And the fruits re so freshhhhhh and affordable!!

Transportation:
nah, beware of Tuk Tuk i have to say. It raised the price so high since they knew that we re tourists. It so pricey but fun as well. Mostly they offer higher price than taxi. Crazy. But yeah, you have to bid 50% OFF minimum. More to 60% would be better.
Taxi is tricky here. When the driver knew that u re tourist (since u cant speak thai) they wouldn't start the argo and just charge u with high price. No matter what, u have to ask the argo to be start. If they refused so wait until somebody said yes.
Except when u want go to somewhere far, u can bid the price but not with argo. 😂
You can also use Bus, BTS, and MRT. But sometimes it needs 15-30 minutes walk to the destination, so if u dont want to walk, just bid tuk tuk then. 😆😆

Where to shop:
woww its amazing place to ladies!!! There re many shopping center here!! If u want something branded, luxury, designer brand you can go to Central Mall, Siam Paragon, Emporium.
But if u want something vintage and lovely with mid range budget u can go to Cha Tu Chak that only open on weekend only and u can find street foods as well.
And if u like affordable clothes u can buy at Platinum or Pratunam Market.
Pratunam Market is a cheap place to seller. Its a morning market that open between 3 AM- 8AM.

Well i love Bangkok despite of the hot weather and tricky transportation, but the people re warm and super friendly even they barely speak english, and the foods, cafes, shopping center were amazing. Love this city. And also u can find beautiful places, and picturesque places, romantic place, shows and everything. We also enjoy the floating market experience as well. Such an unforgettable journey.


ITIN:
Thurs/ 24 nov/ Day 1:
23.00 check in hotel

Fri / 25 nov / Day 2:

10.00 grand palace (Na Phra Lan Road) and wat arun ( 158 Wang Doem Road)

12.30 lunch at UNICORN CAFE
Address: 44/1, Sathon 8, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Getting there: Take the BTS to Chong Nonsi, walk past Residence Hotel towards soi 8, Sathon
Contact: +66 86 397 9262
Opening hours: Tue – Sun, 12pm – 8pm

15.00 HELLOKITTY CAFE
Add: SiamSQ1, Bangkok
Tel: +66 2 115 1335
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest BTS: Siam

17.00 platinum
19.00 dinner at rome restaurant
Address: 454 Nong Nong Phlu
Getting there: Located outside the city – Taxi or private car
Contact: +66 2 444 1088
Opening hours: Daily, 5pm -12midnight

20.30 teddy house, patinya siam square


Sat/ 26 nov / Day 3:

10.00 damnoen saduak market

11.00 REVERIE CAFE
Address: 23/, Thanon Sukhonthasawat, Lat Phrao, Bangkok 10230, Thailand
Getting there: Take the MRT to Lat Phrao, take a 20 minute taxi ride to the coffee shop
Contact: +66 2 932 9388
Opening hours: Tue – Sun, 10:30am – 9:30pm

13.00 lunch at AUDREY CAFE
Add: 136/3 Thonglor Soi 11
Vaddhana, Sukhumvit 55
Tel: +66 2 712 6667
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest BTS: Thong Lo

14.00-16.30 cha tu chak

17.00 CHOCOLATE VILLE
Address: 351, Khan Na Yao, Bangkok 10230, Thailand
Getting there: Located outside the city – Taxi or private car
Contact: +66 83 077 3738 or +66 81 921 2016
Opening Hours: Daily, 4pm – 12midnight; it is recommended to arrive at the earliest hours, preferably with a reservation during weekends and public holidays

20.00 central


Sun/ 27 nov/ Day 4:

10.00 breakfast at PERHAPS RABBIT ( ALICE IN WONDERLAND)
Address: 5/1 Ekkamai 10 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Getting there: Take the BTS to Ekkamai station, exit 1, walk to Sukhumvit 63 and then take a taxi ride to Ekkamai soi 10
Contact: +66 96 616 3314
Opening hours: Daily, 9am – 9pm

12.00 lunch at RABBITO CAFE
 Address: Sukhumvit soi 101/1, in a small shopping centre called Di Wavery Community Mall,
Getting there: Take the BTS to Udom Suk, walk for about 15 minutes towards Soi 101/1
Contact: +66 61 632 2365
Opening hours: Tue –Sun, 12pm -8pm

14.00 cha tu chak
17.00 platinum
19.00 dinner with beijing friends
20.00 siam paragon

Mon/ 28 nov/ day 5 :
10.00 B STORY CAFE
Address: 89/35 Phayathai Rd, Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Getting there: Just outside BTS Ratchathewi
Contact: +66 662-6565677
Opening hours: Daily, 10am – 11pm

11.00 rose garden
15.00 VILLA DE BEAR
Address: 5, Ratchapruk Rd., Bang Ramat, Taling Chan, Bangkok 10170 Thailand
Getting there: Take the BTS to Bang Wa, then a short 15min taxi ride to VdB
Contact: +66 98 496 624
Opening hours: Daily, 11am – 12am

17.00 dinner at scirocco
19.00 central teddy house


Tues/ 29 nov/ day 6:
11.00 breakfast and lunch at KARMAMARKET DINER
30/1 Sukhumvit Soi 24 Bangkok
Tel: +66 02 262 0700
Daily: 9am – 11pm
Nearest BTS: Phrom Phong

13.00 SISTORY ROOM SHOP
Address: Sistoryroom Shop Soi Lat Phrao Wang Hin 8, Bangkok, Thailand 10230
Getting there: Take the MRT to Ratchadaphisek, and then a short 15 minute taxi ride
Contact: +66 85 566 5508
Opening hours: Tue – Sun, 12:30pm -8:30pm

15.00 MBK
19.00 seafood
20.00 siam paragon


Wed/30 nov/ day 7:
Go home

Introvert Aceh

Hello everyone!
Gosh! It took so long for me to write this, since writing needs the idea how and what to write, the memories, and the most important: MOOD.
Well, for indonesian people, Banda Aceh is a familiar city, but not all of us had been there.
Well, like most of us know Banda Aceh is a moslem city, but doesnt mean theres no other religion.
Banda Aceh got a tragic disaster, Tsunami on 2004. It was horrible, more than 230.000 people died on that occasion. But the city has been rebuilt and move on! Become a much better one. Not like other city in Indonesia, Aceh has their own police called Wilayatul Hisbah or Syariah Police. Their job re to punish moslem people if they don't wear "Hijab" or a proper cloth for Moslem Ladies. They have to cover all over the body including hair, arms, legs, and theres no indentation, like boobs or legs or butt or anything improper. And also to punish the prostitute, people who using drugs and alcohol, people who do PDA (Public Display Affection: means no kissing no hugging no "hand in hand" or "gandengan tangan" in Public), punish couple who check in to the Hotel (not "Muhrim" or "husband and wife" ).

Well in other cities in Indonesia, Moslem Ladies have their own right to do what they want to do. Its up to them whether they want to wearing hijab or not. Mostly they wear it when they decide they re totally ready to wear it. But in Aceh, its a must. Theres no big malls in Aceh, theres no cinema in there since its forbidden, and cannot congrats happy new year, happy valentine, happy birthday, merry christmas etc, but however not all of them really using that terms.
But obviously, theres no New Year Celebration there. The public area is close and secure by the guards during that day.

Even so, they said its okay for Non Moslem Ladies to not wear "hijab" or scarf to cover head and hair.  But we still have to wear appropriate clothes. Means long skirt, long pants and long shirt. But based on my observation, its better to wear Scarf as well. Just to cover the head at least. It would be much more convenient.

The public transportation re just the same with Jakarta. Can use "angkot"  a public car who hope on off, and a bus. But mostly people there using their own car.

The most famous thing in Aceh is their coffee. Its called "Sanger Coffee" and it was totally delicious!!!!! Omg, i love that coffee so muchhhhhh!!!
There re LOTS of coffee shops there and they re always crowded til 2 AM!!! Thats crazy!

How about foods?
There is "nasi gurih" a kind of Nasi Uduk, sea foods since its near to the ocean,
"aceh noodle" the noodle is big and thick, they served with the aceh spices, there re original taste, with prawn or crab;
"Aceh fried rice" is totally amazing, they served with seafoods ;
And dont forget the yummiest meal: " ayam tangkap" fried chicken that fried with the fried leafs.

And its totally funny that some of the shops only served two beverages, which re papaya and cucumber.