Taking off to Malay Peninsula trip

The journey that I've planned since August last year will finally become reality. After a long-year wait, a journey from Batam to Bangkok, together with a friend of mine will start this afternoon. We used to take off at 6.40 this morning, but eventually the flight has been delayed until 12.30. By that, we have some times to prepare, sleep and breath a while (between my busy and chaotic schedule after loosing my o2 phone), we actually had a BBQ party last night celebrating my brother's birthday.


things left to be packed, messy!

Our itinerary is quite tight, visiting and transiting cities along the Peninsula. Between Batam to Bangkok we might probably have Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hat Yai, Krabi, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta, Phuket, Surat Thani, and Ko Samui. All trip is by land or by the sea. Not much, it's only a 10 days journey. I'm so excited about this trip since it is the most unprepared trip I have ever! I don't have any Bus/Train/Ferry tickets yet along the journey (except my AirAsia cheap cheap ticket), haven't known yet the name of any hostel I would be staying at, nor having my backpack packed 2 hours before leaving to the airport. What I know is that this journey might not be easy with all the language barrier and lack of facility travelling in Southeast Asia (when compared to trips I've done in Europe and America). However, I've been looking forward to this trip and hopeful for it to be very refreshing. See you in 10 days!

Venice! the city on the sea..

I wanted to start my blog with a place in my home country, Indonesia, but unluckily I couldn't find out in which external hard disk I put the folders of my trip in Java and Sulawesi. So, I would start with one of the cities I love the most: Venice! Yea, I took this trip years ago back when I was an exchange student, visited Venice along with other European cities. This city has impressed me so much, though it was only a day trip. My journey started from Milan, taking a train trip for Venice. It was cloudy but I really got this romantic atmosphere, so mellow with gray sky, the sea and the gondolas. Everything was "floating", the old flats, cathedrals, and even the "bus stop". Well it's not really a bus, but a boat stop. haha.


The floating bus stop in Venice, extraordinary!

It's very nice to see there is a city on the sea with all the dense buildings touching each other very beautifully. The waterway is also fascinating, they even arrange the usual street regulation in every alleyway.


a-one-way waterway with a strict regulation of 5 km per hour speed.


no entry!

Venice is full of Venetian style landmarks that were built years ago. These buildings were many times threatened by wars and sinking problem, but fortunately the Napoleon's war is over and the government of Italy has managed to deal with the sinking problem and guarantees that these treasury human masterpieces will no longer threatened, thanks to the inflatable gates and water pumps!


a beautiful Venetian style landmark that I don't even know the name.


Santa Maria della Salute from different sides.

My favorite point in Venice is absolutely the Piazza San Marco where I can found the tall Campanile and Basilica San Marco.


both landmarks from Piazza San Marco.

I never expected to have a great atmosphere in the Piazza along with other people surrounded by pigeons. Great views from the top of the Campanile are too precious to be missed. I was super fascinated by the shiny orange clay roof tiles all over Venice!


Heading Southwest: people and pigeons hanging out together in Piazza San Marco.


Heading Northeast: the roof of Basilica San Marco.


Heading Southeast: Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore.

Not to be forgotten the unique culture of Venice which interest me much. I did not expecting to find so many Venetian masks being sold on the street. It was unique, I wish I could visit Venice once again during the Carnival of Venice, when those masks are worn.


Venetian masks being sold on the street.

One more thing is unique about Venice is its Gondola. Too bad I was not so interested to jump in by paying 80 Euros per ride. I was alone! it's kinda awkward to have a solo ride on gondola, moreover if I spent that amount of money just for an eccentric ride, I would not find a way to be back home, lol.


Beautiful Gondolas.

Coming back is for sure, with my future wife on the gondola this time! ;-)

about

Moulin Rouge, Place Pigale, Paris 2009

Manhattan taken from Ellis Island, New York City 2009

God created the world so vast, when compared with our very own narrow life. This has encouraged me to explore the life and natural beauty of the world as much as I can do. Not only for self-contentment, but also for soul and mind enrichment, being more grateful and understand the reason God created diversity and richness of nature and mind on the earth. This is the time to share and learn together about the unknown, which have not yet been explored and understood.