Eine Blog von mir

Paradise in Lihaga Island

^ ^ — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 07:13:20 +0000

Not much I can tell that this is the most beautiful island and white sands that i’ve ever visited. Lihaga is an empty island without inhabittant. Only some people nearby regularly coming to clean and maintain this island.

Lihaga Island

Lihaga Island is located at Likupang, North Minahasa regency and it’s in North Sulawesi province in Indonesia. Likupang is about 1 hour from Samratulangi International Airport, Manado. And to cross from Likupang to the island, it will need about 40 minutes depends on the motor boat being used.

Lihaga Island

We started the trip by 6 a.m. from Tondano because I live there and went to Tomohon to pick up some friends there. Continue the trip to Manado and from there directly heading to Likupang and arrived about 9 am. Actually from Tondano only spend about 2hr trip.

Tondano early morning

Arrived in Likupang, the tour guy picked up us at the harbour terminal. The other group from Italy already arrived earlier and waiting for us to go together using the same motor boat.

Pelabuhan Likupang

Likupang

Likupang from the boat

Before we went off to Lihaga, on the boat the tour guy start the speech by a pray with all of the groups. It was nice because we start it by praying. Since all are Christian, including the all of us because we are minahasan, so we pray the God’s prayer.

on the motor boat

Since it’s still in the morning, the sea is so calm. I like it. Near the island, we could see the coral inside. Such a nice view.

reaching to lihaga ^_*

some of us *_^ (this is high school reunion)

the beach

Woow!! awesome! the sands are white.

During the day, lunch time is prepared by the tour guide. There are some spicy foods from Minahasa, fish, pork, boiled sweet potatoes to be eated with the chili sauce (dabu dabu) and some other meals.

View of Klabat Mountain from Lihaga

From the island we could see the mountains in the sulawesi island. The dark blue sea and the light blue see that create a beautiful contrast. Another neighbour island which is Gangga Island. Take a look. it is a resort where the visitors can stay there. Please google it. It has a beautiful scenary also.

backround is Gangga Island Resort

After swiming at afternoon, it’s time to come back.

from Lihaga off to Manado through Likupang

-Tour Lihaga: 150K IDR (crossing the sea, lunch, rinse, tour at the island). If more than 10 persons, the tour team provide the picking up servive car from where we stayed.

- If no picked up, to rent a car for full day: 200K IDR (excluded driver and fuel oil)

more galleries: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150253535761370.321997.533351369

our team

visit the site for the Lihaga Tour as recommended.

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=189097038618

my bos is like my brother, my big bos is like my father

^ ^ — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 06:02:28 +0000

haha.. i luv this thought. Sooner or later it will end.

Most of my colleagues at office are suffered with their ‘lovely’ bos while my department has a leader and a bos as per my subject above. It’s not actually as perfect as it is. In term of tasks sure it’s the opposite one. My job sometimes just like my step mother, but sure my bos will help and cover if i’m not able to face it.

Why he’s like my brother? feel that i don’t have any reluctant. thanks to bos cos he always approve my leave ^^ hehee allowing me to have long holidays while i have to.. nego for my leave, understand all my needs and yahh always treat me and other staff the roasted porks hihiii that’s become my fav now. make a kidding to all of us, it’s normal.

my other big bos,.. a care bos, eventhough a moment he and the bos like my brother made me cry by not allowing me to have a short leave i had to finish a report within that day. But finally after working hour he provided me his car for me to leave and my bos did the job that i should do.. when my big bos offered, ohh that’s the one that added my cry I was so touched ^_^. But the careness not only here, at the other occations in term of profesionalism, both are the best. Always assist all the members at their department. I am so proud to be inside the team. But I don’t like current situation that the jobscopes are not maintained well that’s why overload and the neverending tasks always come up..

Not less than 2 months, in january 2011 there will be a separation. I tought i gonna have another new leader. Hope my big bos will stay as my bos. After the 3 months from January, I have plan also to move out as per my previous plan. I like my department the people inside, but not my current jobs as I mention before.

So now is time to enjoy my last days within this company. It’s almost and will be a 3 year working experience working in =S= and already more than 2 years having friends from this company, some become my best friends. It’s worth but I have to end. Grateful to God for everything. Let the plan from Jesus to happen. Not my plan ^^

my 3rd floor

^ ^ — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:30:17 +0000

i just want to recall my statement from by previous post ‘training 2009′ — that it was my nitemare after a year pass. Then I just realise that it is including in God’s plan. I’m still in my 3rd floor right now, and lately i feel the warmness after some people leaving. The relationship between one another become stronger and we do helping, supporting each other eventhough the jobs are not as they are, even jobs are the opposite. This is one of the lessons I’ve learnt.. and there are still a lot of new things come to me, and now im counting my days to see some being seperated, since we will have new plant I will stay as now at the current building while some others of my coullages my friends will have the new office at the other building. I have no less than 2 months and the ‘suasana kekeluargaan’ will disappear?? hope not.

I can say this situation at 3rd floor is support me while im waiting my time to leave also… eventhough im still confuse where to go what to do?? coz i could not endure with this tasks behind (

Dear Jesus, let me know soon where you will bring me to my next destination??

to be continued

3rd fl

The last day ritual in Tidung Island

^ ^ — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:03:28 +0000

it’s been a ritual for me and my friends to celebrate the resignation or contract finish of one of us. End of February was a farewell with Dina trip Singapore-Johor-KL and back to Batam. Within May was the 2nd round with additional members Desi, Pak Binsar and Tomy as wikend trip in Singapore.

tidung island

Then another last day ritual in August, we had my self, charless, desi, desi’s mother and brother.. a great time. Just to spent the last time with Desi who was still in Batam.

This month come to Charless last day ritual. No other member, unless me in Batam. Then it’s decided for Tidung Island, there should be more people to join. and finally we went to Tidung. All of my friends ex Batam were there: Merlyn, Ester, Desi, Pak Binsar, Desi’s mom and additional my uni friends Felix. Danke Felix für deine schön Bilder.

Thanks to Charless for the invitation also to me and my friends cos all of the members are my friends, eventhough one day earlier this vacation was almost not going to happen. Why?? hahaa internal issue. But P’Binsar nego was helpful. and we could come back safely. Maybe becos the pray from them who worried, and overal Thanks God for all.

I started by the flight from Batam. again many thanks to all my sponsor so I could able to join this trip. My plan to tidung actually was canceled since my granma passed away at the 1st of Oct so I had to come back to Manado for the funeral. You know lah, all of the people were in sorrow including my pocket not able to fulfil this trip to tidung which would be at the mid of October. But because of the force of my friends,.. how to say ‘force’?? the love of my friends wakakakk then i just could say mksih for having pushed me to join and giving me all the free accomodation and transport and it was realy realy awesome and unforgetable vacation.

Ok, continue. 2nd time at Hangnadim airport within a week. and 3rd time in Soe-ta airport within a month ^^. That time was a rainy day in Jakarta as consequence the awful traffic was there. It took about 2hrs from the airport to meeting point kartika chandra hotel. And all the members is waiting also arround 2 hours

Spent one night in jakarta before crossing the sea to Tidung island. In the morning before 6, from Tebet to Muara Angke terminal.. wow we used alphard taxi instead of the normal one.

The journey to Tidung Island took about 3 hrs. Arrived there, the accomodation already prepared by the travel agent. Having lunch and continue for snorkling… night- bbq time. Next morning, see the sunrise. But no sunrise because of the fog. .. so on and so on, then

before take of.. leaving for batam again

Masa training preventa di Jerman 2009

^ ^ — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:39:31 +0000

It was a gift for me to get this training. But also become my nitemare after a year passed. I cannot easily leave my current company due to the 2 year bonding after the training. Stress, tired and saturated.

The R&D Team

Nevertheless, my faith there must be a big plan from God for me to let me stay until early of 2011. That’s the one thing that cheer me up, also friends that still stay eventhough one by one are leaving, my best frends are gone and one is going to, at the end it will be the only me who stay ??? Oh Jesus, i need support to survive, please.

OK. want to talk about my training in Germany during the winter time 2009. it was awesome and a long story. This page will not be enough. Summary:

the path i going to the office every day

I got the information that somebody should be trained to the product range i’m working with arround 8 months before. It was in June 2008, my first time handling this project. So time passed by and it was forgotten. Then in Nov 08 due to the critical issue of this product then it’s decided the people must be trained to be qualified. So then it became my turn ^^. Lucky my boss asked my what topics I need, please prepare. I collected all topics for me to learn, and at the end came to conclusion that i would need 8wks for all of that.

Oh how lucky I was (blessing from God actually). Mostly, the training only take 1 wks. Max 2 wks. What I got is 2 months, while a friend of me will be trained for 3wks.

It was not so easy when I started to prepare my documents for Visa Application. It was planned that I’m going to Germany at the begining of January 2009. Due to this schedule, i was going to cancel my 3 wks Christmas holiday plan become 2 wks only. But my boss approved my request, then it became almost 3 wks holiday in my hometown.

KL 08

I should provide my passport within December, however my plane ticket for Christmas holiday to Manado was using the International flight. So I must took my passport first going to KL through Singapore, than had a direct flight to Manado. When I arrived in my city, the next day I posted my passport to Batam. The tension was so high, i was worried it will arrive when my company is off. I sent on 22, and should be arrived at 24. In fact 24 was a half working day. Thanks to Jesus, the secratary received it and proceed it immediately.

At the end of my holiday in January, I got a phone call from office. Plant manager during that time, he requested me to directly come to Jakarta at the next day. And it was actually my day to go to Batam. So I extended my day in Jakarta for Visa application and had to let my ticket Jkt-Btm gone.

waktu ngurusin passport di jkt dgn Lina R

In Jakarta, there was an information that the passport will only be done at the end of January. So that time also we have to call the office Btm and people in Germany to re-arrange the schedule from mid of Jan become end of January. I got my Visa then with the new schedule.

my friends who helped me packing

And all the preparation were going well. All the winter stuffs I could find out, one trip in Singapore using company ticket for the winter clothes (eventhough it should not be ;for the ticket), help from friends to prepare (thanks to desi, merlyn ester) and so on.

The day of my flight, i was using the first ferry Batamfast. But because of some issue with a friend NPWP finally we missed the first ferry and had to change with Penguin for the next fastest schedule. Yeah and finally could be in Changi Airport eventhough got an hour delay for the flight.

waiting to boarding

The flight took arround 15hrs if im not wrong. My high school friend picked me up at the Frankfurt International Airport. (Thanks to k’aileen). And a driver from Schneider with the paper on his hand written me and my friend name was waiting outside. The weather was so cold brrbbbrrrrr. It was about 2am in the morning. I still fell jetlag.

The driver brought us the the Seligenstadt Apartment, It’s about half hour from Frankufurt Airport.
The first day in Seligenstadt, Ohhh i was very hungry in the morning. No foods and outside temperature was very low. It’s almost 8-10C and it’s Sunday. I though all of the shopping centre were close. And it’s correct.There was a map of this small city. Me and Lina, a colleague of me, we went outside by using the map from the appartment and finally could reach the market place. People called it MarkPlatz in German. A coffe shop was opened. and We had our first meals and brunch over there. I just used my body language to explain what we need because it’s been long time i never use my German language. But slowly could understand each other. I prefer to use English because they also understand.

after all full with the bread & coffee, sitting in front of the coffee shop

First day training.
Me and Lina were picked up by Remmi at the Apartment. Remmi is inside the team in R&D. The office just about 3 minutes by car or 10 minutes walking. Just near each other. All of the people who worked at Schneider Germany was at their old age. And we are the younger, I am youngest. The training was going well each day.
Every lunch time, people there were eating in group. Let’s say I was at the R&D dept. So they will look for me to ask for lunch together and sometimes wait each other. I like it. I like also the foods provided at the cafetaria, since it’s free, the menu were so complete and interesting.

place where i play ^^

First Week, first weekend.
We were just inside the Seligenstadt area, walking arround the city shopping centre. But don’t wish too much as in Indonesia or Singapore. The shopping centre is classic. Not much were there. I finally could get a German number with a mobile phone in packet so I can use it to call Indonesia.

neighbours of my apartment

shopping centre in Seligenstadt, so classic

2nd Wikend
There was a colleague who was from Japan, name Yoshida. He’s so kind by inviting us to go together to Frankfurt and had a lunch with his family. Unlucky the weather during that weekend was rainy, wet and very very cold. My hand and fingers was frozen. But we got a very good time with them. We went home seperately. Me and Lina still had some walk arround the city. I got my new coat, luv it cos it’s discount ^^, also i was looking some modem internet but couldn’t find because all must be in contract at least 2yrs.
So we went back using the train. First time it was so difficult which train must be used. Oh I forget how to use the German train 3 years ago. Finally we got the train. Just be calm down and look at the instruction and direction. Arrived at Seligenstadt, now we were at the middle of the Markplatz overthere, but don’t know the way back to Apartment. It was about 9pm. No body overthere, only a big map on the street. Lina is frozen, my legs ohh so tired. We walk arround 30 minutes then can find out the Apartment we live. A long story actually.

Lina with Yoshida family am Röme

At the next day in Sunday, I finally can go to Church with a a colleague from Schneider.

the international baptist church with Shireen

3rd Week end.
It’s Lina time to going back to Indonesia. She went back on Saturday. So the driver and I brought her to the airport. It was nice, the day was snowy. Lina last day in Germany. In fact, there was no stow for the first 2 weeks. After that Lina left. That was a sad day that I was just alone, don’t know where to go. But finally I decide to go to Wiesbaden about 45minutes from the Airport. Had a walk arround the MarkPlatz, I got affordable winter shoes , parfumes, and had lunch over there. shopping again haha. That to make me forget that im alone my excuse.

Lina last day, Seligenstadt Apartment

Sunday morning when I woke up , view from the balkon

So come to the 4rd Wikend.
I was with Shireen, a Marcopolo from Kuala Lumpur worked in Schneider Seligenstadt, the one who bring me to Church at the 2nd Wk. I visit the city where she lived and she showed me some placed that provide all the Asian stuffs. I got tofu, teri and kangkung overthere. I ate also the halb haenschen the half chicken I usually eat during my training 2006. Suppa ^^

cooking after geting all the stuff. Momasa brenebon khas mdc ^^

next day, cook kangkung with teri. No ulekan cabenya terpaksa di potong doank,

dapat bumbu nasi kuning juga. Bikin teri selanjut nya agak gosong ey,,

Now coming to the 5th weekend.
I had no plan. Since my high school friend in Frankfurt was at her final exam so we could not meet. While my uni friend from SGU in Stuttgart couldn’t make it also. So I decided to go to Luxembourg. It’s one of the Europe countries I’ve never been. Belgium, Holland which are near Frankfurt visited in before, just Paris France also I’ve never been and willing to be there one day. Wishing not to come alone to Paris^^, that’s why it’s not become my choice to visit during that time. My 2nd cousine who was there also was pregnant, so she’s not available. The nearest one and the cheaper transportation is still Luxembourg. I searched from the internet how the way to be there. There was a train to that direction and then I noted the schedule at Friday night.
So Saturday early morning, still dark as i remember I started my trip. It was about 5hrs with the economy train RE.

Area sekitar Koblenz, pic from the train

border between Germany and Luxembourg

Indonesia yak.. perjalanannya ngikutin aliran sungai. Trus bisa keliatan di seberang nya sungai ada bukit bukit yang atas nya kayak kerajaan gitu. Pas udah mo sampe di Luxe, bahasa station masing masing udah beda. Ga kayak di German, suasananya juga beda. Kiri kanan di penuhin dengan rumput tipis kayak di swiss dengan pemandangan luas. Rumah-rumah nya pada jarang-jarang. Ada yang di tengah padang rumput gitu, ada juga yang di pinggiran rail kereta. Tapi gak kayak yang di jkt looh.

shot from the train

Sampe di sana udah jam 12 siang. Waktu balik harus pake train stengah 3. jadi waktu nya singkat banget. Jadi aku langsung aja foto-in map nya yang ada di halte. Trus jalan ke arah MarkPlatz nya. Jalan terus, ketemu jembatan ciri khas nya Luxembourg. Trus Nyampe ke pusat kota, yang ada shopping centre nya. Shopping Cetre ga jauh beda dengan yang ada di German. Kesan kuno dan klasik nya tetap ada. Semua yang bermerek pun ada di sana. Bahasa yang di gunakan ialah bah. Luxembourg sendiri. Di bilang German,, bukan. Prancis juga, kagak ngerti. Jadi ngomongnya pake English aja kalo mo order makanan, juga pas beli-beli sesuatu.
Waktu udah mo habis. Ga sempet makan besar, akhirnya mampirlah aku ke SUBWAY. bungkus buat makan di Train. Ntar lagi kereta mo jalan, jadi mau ga mau harus lari kejar jam nya. And Thanks God I can get the train.
And reach to Apartement safely biarpun sampe nya udah malam. Karna tetep aja ketinggalan trainnya pas transit di Germannya sendiri. pas ganti train yang lain. wkkwkwkkwk.

shopping centre Luxe, not much different with Germany

Local train in Luxembourg

Wk 6..
Mainnya ke Stuttgart, tempat nya BMW sama Mercy. Sebenarnya bukan di Stuttgart nya, tapi masih ke dalam lagi alias Metzingen. Kota kecil yang pusat nya factory outlet… puma esprit swatch etc…. u can shop as you want

The factory outlets Metzingen

Minggu nya, baru lah aku ke gereja lagi ^^ Kali ini ke gereja berbahasa Indonesia. JKI (Jemaat Kristen Indonesia) lokasi nya di Frankfurt. Di situ ada kakak kelas SMA dulu sama sodara se-iman yang lain, plus bbrapa orang manado. Jadi bisa ngelogat mdo dikit d jerman, plus makan makanan khas indonesia se usai ibadah. Karna kebetulan ada syukuran.

@JKI Frankfurt am Main after the communion

Wk 7. Almost The last Wikend I enjoy.
Time for Switzerland.
A week before I call Frau Viola, wife of my former Rector in SGU. I lived with here during my training in St. Gallen 2006 for 4 months. She was very welcome me and my friend Ester during that time. I really want to make a visit there to see her and to feel the aroma of the city to make me reflash back the wonderful memory 2006.
So she was available. Then the days before I went to Frankfurt to book a train ticket using the ticket machine overthere. I was looking for a flight but the cheaper price was not available anymore. So, no choice had to be in train for about more than 5 hrs again until Basel. It’s shorter because I used the fast train ICE.

on the way to St Gallen

As per normal, early in the morning about 5 I start by walking to the Seligenstadt train station. From there I want to Frankfurt and use the ICE Bahn, directly to Swiss, transit in Basel. From Basel, I changed the train to Zurich and from Zurich using another train to St. Gallen. Very long jouney.
A friend of me during my internship last time picked me up. Thanks to Basit and friends. I had a visit to the Cathedral I usually join for worship last time. The shopping centre and the small street I mostly pass by. Oh, I couldn’t believe that I could be back to that city again. That made me wanna cry. Some were missing, which is my friend Ester. Biasanya aku bareng Ester terus di St.Gallen.
Jam 5 sore, aku udah janji sama Frau Viola mo nunggu di depan Post Stelle. Jadi nunggu d situ, trus ketemu deh. She picked me up and bring me to her house.

Mit Frau Viola

Masih aja kayak ga percaya waktu itu, bisa balik lagi. Nah skrg di Eggersriet nama kampungnya Frau Viola.
Besok pagi nya, beliau ga ke gereja gara2 mo temenin aku. Dia pun ngajak ke Fünfländerblick dataran tinggi yang pemandangannya pegunungan dan Bedensee (Danau). Danau nya itu ada di kelilingi oleh German, Austria juga Swiss. Nah tengah nya itu ada pulau namanya Mainau. Itu bagian teritory nya Swedan, as I heard. Wow, a very beautiful place. Orang2 d sana kalo wikend kebanyakan ngunjungin tempat tempat yang natural kayak gini. Trus tempat nya ga sembarangan bisa bikin rumah biar pemandangannya masih tetap alami, ga ketutup sama rumah2 yang baru. That’s info what I got.

Oke.. abis itu siang nya aku di anterin ke Train Station, turun gunung ke St Gallen. Dan balik lagi ke Frankurt. Long way to go again. St.Gallen-Zurich-Basel-Frankfurt.

So,
next day after working day, Aku di kunjungi mah my high school friend at the apartment. Thanks sista ^^ having visited me over there with your Indonesian other brother and sista from Frankfurt . hehhee

The last week in Germany…
Wktu masih d Batm, Aku minta mah secretary yg ngurusin tiket pulang sebelumnya untuk atur tiket jadi hari minggu. Soalnya orang kalo training pulang nya suka hari sabtu itu juga. Jadi, Apartment di extend sehari, and I back to Indo on Sunday. Extend nya masih di bayarin kantor. Jadi tenang aja.. that’s save. Aku gabunging juga bill internet pas di apartement ke kantor. lumayaan lah dari pada ongkisin sendirii.

Sabtu sebelum pulang aku ke Main. the name of the city. Sebelumnya juga ke Darmstadt Sekitar 1 jam dari Seligenstadt. Darmstadt nya puter puter foto2 kota nya. Plus I got my my watch overthere ^^ bangga gitu dapat jam dari jerman, hihii. iya donk. Lagi Angebot.

Main

Dari Main, balik ke Frankfurt masih mampir ke Airport beli titipan tempat kunci German. Takutnya ga sempet beli pas besoknya. Sampe Apartment udah malam. Time to beres beres.
Ga tidur waktu itu. Banyak barang yang di tinggalin soalnya overweit.

Minggu nya.. return back to Indonesia
Driver took me to the Airport. Kakak klas SMA-ku juga skalian ada di sana, nganterin. Skalian aku titipin barang2 yang di tinggalin, kali aja bisa di sumbangin. Soalnya katanya ada kotak tempat kasih barang bekas. Nah itu bisa d taruh situ bwt amal. Aku nimbang koper waktu itu. Wahh, memang udah 25Kg. Terpaksa, 2 jaket di keluarin dari koper dan tetep d pake d badan. berat jugaa. Ada lagi Rot Wein di tinggalin 1 botol. Sebenarnya titipan orang.

Masih sempet makan di McD sebelum takeoff. „Thanks juga k aileen n budi traktirannya hehe“ Aku harus buru2 ngantri di imigrasi setelahnya. Antriannya panjang banget ey. Trus petugasnya juga kasar. Ada 1 orang penumpang yang mo nanya. Bahu petugas nya di tepuk pelan siih, artinya mo nanya. Ehh petugasnya malah marah marah. Katanya ga boleh nyentuh orang sembarang.

Sebelum masuk pintu scan. Semua ikat pinggang harus di lepas. Jaket harus di buka. Laptop dalam tas harus di keluarin. Ribet buangeet. Untung aku bisa lolos. Dari situ, langsung lariiii ke waiting room. Dan ternyata semua orang udah pada masuk dalam pesawat. yahh, I almost missed out the plane wkwkkwkkk.

Tapi ahirnya pas dalam pesawat bisa tenang. Aku dapat yang di pinggir jendela. Perjalanan sekitar 13 jam lebih cepat karna berlawanan arah sama putaran bumi. bener gak??? yak

Batam from the sky in the morning. Pasific place at the bottem left side.

Besokkannya sampe di singapor sekitar jam 7.30 pagi waktu setempat.. Abis itu cari tempat duduk online dulu sejam trus pulang dehhh.
Harbourfront dulu, beli sandal soalnya pada pake buts sama jacket hangat nya di tangan. weekss. hampir ketinggalan ferry pula waktu itu. Untung karna aku pake bagasi, mau ga mau mereka tungguin. Karna bagasi ku dengan koper yang gede udah duluan di Ferry.
Oh Thanks God I could arrive safely in Indonesia. My friend Ester picked me up at the Batam Center ferry terminal.
At the same day, I move from Kintamani to Anggrek Sari. Masih capek2 niih tidur bentar, baru lanjutin pindahin barang-barang ke Anggrek Sari. Besok ngantorr.

So that’s all_ hope I will have another story about Germany or Europe. Especially Parissss never been there in France, really want to visit one day. amiiinn.

Wihelmin

Minahasa

^ ^ — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:18:35 +0000

Yup.. this’s my hometown. Tondano is the capital city Minahasa Raya regency. Minahasa itself is wide. Now it’s separated into some regions. Let’s say Tomohon city, South Minahasa, and North Minahasa regency.

Minahasa is different with Manado. Manado is the capital city of North Sulawesi province. It’s about one hour distance between Manado and Tondano. Manado located at the lower level near the sea, while Tondano is at the higher level surrounded by lake and mountains.

View of Minahasa from Bukit Doa, Kawangkoan.

I live in Tonsealama, where the resource of the electricity for Minahasa. The district has the main power supply by water. We call it PLTA. That’s why some of the people in my place are working in PLN so did my parents. My father left the company first, long time ago. Then my mother took an early retirement at her age about 30 yrs later … what a long journey. My bro got some scholarship from this company for the gud skul grade ^^, so did I sometimes during my elementary school. But comparing to now, I don’t really like this electricity company (suka mati lampuu seech ),.. even it has lots of contribution to me. Why many people really want to work here?!!

yeahh that’s the fact, almost all of my family including. The brothers and sister of my father were graduated from this company also… Even they moved from one area to another Jkt, Palu etc. Lucky my mother just stayed.

I just don’t want to be the same like them end up life to this company just want something new.

So comeback to Minahasa… my intention is to share one 2 days travel to Minahasa.

Places to be visited by backpackers.

Here we go…

If you are not from Indonesia means coming from other country, use the Singapore-Manado route. Silk Air is available. But it’s expensive comparing if you transit in Jakarta. Just use the Lion Air that can be easily booked online.

The airport in Manado is the International Airport of Samratulangi. It’s about 30minutes from the city. I don’t know exactly how many km. To get cheaper hotel, there are some hotels near the airport that I heard quite cheap. Just check in the travel-advisor web to get the hotel reviews.

Take the taxi from the hotel. Use Bluebird taxi instead of the other taxi. Because some can charge you more. The cost is about Rp.50K from airport to the city.

As I know there is no bus.

Place to visit in Minahasa:

Tomohon.

Tomohon is a new city on the high level. It’s famous with the flowers. Most of the people are farmers. But the others also work at the government area. From Manado to Tomohon you will pass the hills and the coconut forests. It’s about 45minutes with the curve way.

way surrounded by forest

It’s better to rent a car if you are outsider and don’t know this area hire also a driver from the rental. Ask at the hotel to rent a car. Or buy a newspaper then you will find the information to rent a car. One day is about Rp.300K including the driver and solar. But it might be varied.

On the way to Tomohon, don’t forget to have lunch in one restaurant at the peak of the hill. One is Heng Mien. You will taste the Minahasan cuisine over there. Spicy but delicious. Lake Snail, forest rats, dogs, pork, fish, chicken are there. Just pay Rp.15K/person for all food you can eat on the table you reserve.

Arrived at Tomohon,

Bukit Doa, kakaskasen

Go to the Bukit Doa. It’s located in Kakaskasen village. A lil bit inside. From there you can see the view of Tomohon with the Lokon mountain.

Kapel bukit doa, tomohon

Then continue to the market of Tomohon. It’s one of the biggest market in Minahasa. Or you can visit the ‘Rumah Panggung’ located in jalan Woloan. You will see how the people build the Wood House to be sent all over Indonesia even to be exported.

Then comeback to the city of Tomohon and continue to another direction which is Danau Linau or the Lake Colour. It’s a lake on the high hills with the sulfur under it. As I know the water is not flowing. At the noon time the colour will be in variation more than two colour instead of blue only. People can boil some eggs in some area of this lake because of the high temperature of it when there’s sulfur come out.

Danau Linau is in Lahendong village.

danau linau, color lake lahendong

After that Now move to Kanonang. The name is Bukit Kasih or the Love Hills.

This area is at the high land. You will be able to see the Minahasa, the sea and the lake of Tondano. This Bukit kasih has 5 places to worship. They are churches, mosque, and temples.

rumah makan RAGEY- Kawangkoan

Back from Kanonang, please take some time to break the the ‘Ragey Restaurant’ Kawangkoan.

You will get the roasted pork so delicious to eat, special taste of Minahasan food. Not only it, sometimes snakes are there ^^. Fish and chicken are available all in boufet.

minahasan foods

ragey plus dabu dabu - roasted pork with the chili tomaten sauce

One day is not enough to visit Tomohon. So stay one night would be good at this cold city. A lot of hostels with the good view of the mountain are available. Don’t worry, the people are very welcome.

Next destination for the next day is Rurukan. The place where the people plant the vegetables on the mountain. Nice view from other side to see the see of Bitung and also the Lake of Tondano from high land.

After Rurukan, go down to Tondano.

Tondano.

Tondano is the capital city of Minahasa Raya. My home is about 10 minutes by car to the city. Even a capital city, Tomohon is more moved forward than Tondano.

Danau Tondano, go to this Place find a restaurant at the edge of this lake to eat the lake fish. Don’t forget to visit also Tonsealama the region where I live ^^. It’s a village with the river of Danau Tondano pass through it. You’ find there’re some caves and also a water fall (but I’ve never visit it :S ).

Then.. that’s for Minahasa. it’s not all. Because I just share the main of Minahasa and Tomohon, and both still have a lot of places to be visited which is missing here. While the South of Minahasa, north Minahasa and Manado itself are not. Also Bitung and Likupang where the place to cross to Lembeh Island. Coz my scope haven’t been there. Next time otree ^^

Then from Tondano, time to go back to Manado about 1hrs.

Penjara

^ ^ — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:24:09 +0000

Guys, have u ever visit a jail? Hhmm, how is your imagination about being there. Yeah, I’ve been there for a while. Not living there of course. Just a visit. Ternyata penjara tidaklah se-suram yang kebanyakan orang bayangkan. TahuKah kamu, kalau ada penjara yang layaknya sebuah hotel. Yup. Hotel prodeo namanya.

Pada waktu pertama kalinya aku berkunjung di asrama Prodeo ini, aku harus melalui pemeriksaan dari para petugas. Melewati pintu kecil yang pendek, dan bagi anda pria, kalian harus meninggalkan tanda pengenal berupa KTP dan mendapatkan cap di tangan. Yang ini khusus untuk kunjungan ke Penjara Laki-laki. Apabila berkunjung ke penjara perempuan, nah, pengunjung wanilalah yang mendapat cap di tangan (Aku sih belum pernah berkunjung ke prodeonya wanita). Yang aku ceritakan saat ini ialah LP Cipinang Jakarta Timur. Tempatnya Roy Martin sebelumnya. Jika kamu ingin bertemu dengan artis, tempat ini bisa jadi salah satu pilihan juga. Aku ketemu dengan sih Renaldo A2DC sinetron, Ferry nya Alda dan beberapa orang tahanan politik seperti Enriko Gueterez, pejuang asal Timor-timur. Boleh ga foto di bawah ini bersama Enrico Gueterez yang baru saja bebas bulan April 2008 ini.

Khusus untuk tahanan kalangan tertentu, pengunjung bisa bertemu di tempat tertentu yang cukup nyaman. Dalam hal ini, terdapat aula yang cukup besar, dilengkapi dengan mesin pendingin udara, AC sehingga bisa nyaman berlama-lama di sana. Namun pengunjung tidak diperkenankan masuk hingga ke kamarnya para tahanan. Apalagi pengunjung perempuan. Akupun jadi penasaran. Nah, yang di bawah sini bisa terlihat bagian dalam penjara. boleh jo tohh -,-

Kelihatan ada gereja, tapi ini hanya luarnya saja. Sebenarnya tak diperkenankan bawa kamera, Cuma,.. dasar kabal tooh. Lolos deh kita pe kamera, hehhe. Ketika melalui pemeriksaan pada saat mengunjungi nih hotel, aku juga melihat tempat pertemuan para pengunjung untuk yang memang dikhususkan bagi tahanan yang biasa saja. Kata kasarnya, bagi mereka yang mencopet di jalanan dan lain-lain. Sungguh gerah kelihatannya ruangannya. Tampaknya tak senyaman dengan tempat berkumpulnya para orang-orang yang berkecukupan itu.

Yaah, memang begitulah penjara itu saat ini. Mungkin juga dari dulu. Jika punya uang, tahanan bisa menikmati kamar penjaranya dengan layanan yang baik lengkap dengan internet. Dari sumber yang saya dapatkan, penjara di LP ini dibedakan dengan beberapa blok. Blok D misalkan, ialah untuk kamar penjara yang berkelas mama. Sedangkan A, berkelas papa. Bisa lihat kan, foto di bawah berikut ini. Ruangan yang sudah lengkap dengan AC, ada juga Tv-nya, dan depannya terdapat tempat untuk fitness.

Banyak informasi yang aku peroleh ketika mengunjungi hotel ini. Tak semua tahanan itu bersalah. Ada yang dijebak, ada yang karena menanggung kesalahan orang lain, ada juga karena popularitas di media cetak tentang kesalahannya walaupun tak bersalah, namun para penguasa hanya tetap mengikuti arus mana yang populer, dialah yang dimasukkan ke penjara. Berbicara tentang KPK, ataupun pemerintahan Indonesia saat ini, memang tampak jelas bahwa banyak sekali kasus korupsi yang terungkap. Tapi pandanganku, hal ini bukanlah suatu prestasi. Kebanyakan kasus hanyalah tampeng yang memperlihatkan kalau komisi ini jago menangkat tersangka. Sebenarnya sih tersangka tidaklah bersalah, akan tetapi, dibuat bersalah supaya hakim ataupun si komisi ini bisa kelihatan berhasil menangani kasus korupsi. Yaah, sangat disayangkan. Makanya aku juga setuju dengan orang yang tak bersalah untuk ditempatkan di penjara berfasilitaskan hotel. Apa salahnya. Coba, bila hal ini terjadi dikeluargamu. Kau juga tak mau khan, kalo orang yang kenal dituduh dan ditempatkan di tempat yang tak layak. Tenaang, ada pilihan hotel looh. Hehhe.
Cuma musti bayar bo’,, ber jeti jeti sto, kong kalo mo berkunjung ka asrama ini, musti ba kase selem pa petugas. Itu kenyataannya.

education vs experience

^ ^ — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:46:42 +0000

TaHU kah kau? Ternyata apa yang kita dapat di kuliah belum lah siap untuk di applikasikan langsung di perkerjaan. Jadi, memang benarlah, kalau kebanyakan fresh graduate itu benar-benar belum siap untuk masuk ke dunia kerja.
Makanya, dari pengalaman saya, sangatlah susah fresh graduate untuk mencari perkerjaan. Kebanyakan lowongan yang dipajang membutuhkan orang dengan minimal perkejaan 1 tahun dan kebanyakan butuhnya 2-3 tahun. Malah ada yang 10 tahun kerja.
Jadi,. Begitulaah dunia kerja di Indonesia saat ini.
Untungnya saya sudah pernah magang sebelumnya. Jadi pengalaman magang sangat berpengaruh untuk pekerjaan yang aku peroleh. Perusahaan sangat melihat latar belakang pekerjaan sebelumnya, entah dia magang atau pun benar-benar kerja.
So, jangan salah pilih untuk tempat magang-mu jika kau saat ini sedang kuliah.
Karna aku ini seorang fresh graduate, yaah akupun memang mau tak mau harus ditrain. Aku sadar, masih begitu banyak hal yang harus aku pelajari berkenaan dengan pekerjaan ku saat ini, walaupun bidangnya tidaklah jauh dengan pelajaran2 di kuliahku dulu. Ternyata kuliah itu hanya dasar saja untuk kerja. Im nothing at office. Semuanya pada pintar-pintar ngomongin kerjaan mereka. Jadi saya anjurkan, jika anda telah lulus kuliah, janganlah terburu-buru untuk melanjutkannya ke jenjang yang lebih tinggi, S2 misalnya. Tanpa pengalaman kerja, aku bisa bilang that u are nothing.
Banyak S2 yang masih dianggap setingkat dengan S1 jika pengalaman kerjanya kurang.
Apalagi Indonesia. Orang jarang sekali menghargai pendidikan. Yang aku dengar, perusahaan Asia lebih appreciate pada pengalaman ketimbang pendidikan. Lain lagi dengan perusahaan Eropa yang lebih baik, karena menghargai pendidikan tanpa melihat senioritas.
Contohnya saja, dua perusahaan tempat aku pernah bekerja dan sementara bekerja.
Yang pertama, saat magang, yaah bos ku masih muda, mambawahi orang2 yang usianya diatasnya. Itu di sebabkan karena pendidikannya. Yang kedua, masih di perusahaan milik eropa, yang tempat aku bekerja saat ini, managerku juga masih muda, (cakeep booo’., hehhe but there’s a ring at his finger), bawahaan nya ada yang lebih tua dari dia. Yaah mungkin kali’ yaah, dia terima aku yang fresh graduate masih muda, karna ga mau terima yang tua lagi,, yang umur dibilang di atasnya,. Hehhhe I am so lucky to work here.
Sekedar berbagi informasi, saat ini aku tinggal bersama-sama orang2 schneider yang masih baru juga. Ternyata mereka semua telah memiliki pengalaman kerja yg cukup banyak. How come, ada yang sampe 5-7 tahun kerja, ada juga yang 1 tahun kerja, malah ada juga dosenku yang S2nya di Belanda ehh ketemunya di sini. Aku kaget liat mr.Z pada dikenalin di kantor. Jika diamati, yaah semua yang baru masuk karena telah berpengalaman kerja, jadi jika sudah berpengalaman kerja, maka akan gampang untuk dapat pekerjaan ataupun pindah ke perusahaan lain yang menawarkan gaji lebih tinggi. Salah satu alasan mereka pindah ke Schneider juga yaah karena dapat tawaran lebih baik dari perusahaan sebelumnya. Naah, jika sudah berpengalaman, so you can sell your self,, gitu deeh. Tunggu aku yaaah, im growing right now.
Kalo ga punya pengalaman, makanya, magang sonoo noooh!! Tanpa di bayar,,

how’s life easily change

^ ^ — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:42:36 +0000

Aku tak menyangka bisa seperti saat ini. Yaah, inilah berkat Tuhan. Beberapa waktu yang lalu, masih teringat dibenakku masa aku berada di tangah ketidakpastian. Masa aku berharap penuh, namun harapanku tak kunjung diwujudkan. Masa lulus kuliah, mendapat gelar sarjana merupakan hal yang sangat membanggakanku. Namun masa setelah itu, di mana aku harus melanjutkan hidupku mencari perkerjaan guna mengaplikasikan ilmu yang telah ku peroleh adalah masa yang bisa dibilang suram bagiku. Akupun jadi berpikir, alangkah senangnya bisa kembali kuliah terus menerus bersama teman-teman, di mana aku bisa memiliki kegiatan rutin yang pasti tanpa memikirkan hari esok. Hal ini seakan membuat aku melupakan kalau aku telah lulus kuliah, bahwa aku harus mensyukuri apa yang telah kudapatkan.

Beberapa bulan setelah diwisuda, mencari pekerjaan jadi tujuanku. Akupun mulai dengan mengirimkan lamaran ke beberapa perusahaan, walaupun tak ada lowongan di sana. Berbagai jasa job vacancy di internet telah kudaftarkan namaku. Perusahaan terkenal yang membuat aku terpesona jika mendengarnya pun telah aku kirimkan lamaranku ke sana. Awalnya aku begitu semangat apply sini dan sana. Internetlah satu satunya sumber informasiku maupun mediaku mengirimkan lamaran. Beberapa bulan kemudian, tak satupun jawaban yang positif. Aku malah jadi begitu sensitif ketika orang menanyakan kabarku. „udah kerja di mana Hel? Sekarang ngapain Hel? Eh, so melamar di mana jo?“ OMG, i reaaly dont like to hear that. Aku jadi sangat ingin menghindar dari orang-orang untuk pertanyaan seperti itu. Hal ini membuatku mengerti, bagaimana perasaan orang orang yang dalam masa pengangguran. Stress pastinya. Jadi- I suggest to you guys,. Don’t ever try to know ur friends job specifically when u know that she or he is jobless. They definitely have no answer for that, except for them who have already get job. Maka, jangan juga sombong pada waktu kuliah, because u’ll face a moment for finding job when u are jobless after graduating.
Waktu semakin bertambah, aku jadi menghindar dari teman-temanku, males kalo ditanyain kabar. Ada juga yang pernah tawarkan kerjaan buatku, namun aku memang kurang tertarik karena alasan tertentu. Yang aku mau ialah perkerjaan yang sesuai dengan jurusan aku kuliah, maupun juga minatku. Karena yang ku perhatikan dari orang-orang, pengalaman sebelumbya akan sangat berpengaruh pada masa depan pekerjaan kita. Doapun selalu ku panjatkan. Orang tuaku selalu mendorong ku, walaupun lewat telpon doank, but it’s so meaningful.
– Suatu waktu, aku dapat telpon kalau aku diundang untuk tes di X company. It’s HOLCIM, perusahaan semen. Pada hari yang sama, ada juga telpon dari perusaahan Y. Wow, 2 tawaran hanya dalam sehari. That’s God’s mercy. Aku langsung mengiyakan tawaran yang kedua untuk mengikuti interviewnya, walaupun harus pake pesawat untuk menuju lokasinya (perusahaan yang ongkosin). Tes di X pun aku jalanin, namun memang bukan untukku, yah akupun tak lolos. Memang, jika ditelaah, perusaahan ini tidak sesuai dengan latar belakang bidangku. Aku sempat patah semangat ketika tidak lolos masuk di situ. The second company, aku dapat halangan untuk ini, jadi tak terlaksanalah interview untuk itu. Namun setelah beberapa minggu, mereka menelpon lagi menawarkan untuk interview, dan kali ini akhirnya aku bisa memenuhi permintaan mereka, terbang ke tempat mereka. I get accepted. Tapi tak tahu kenapa, begitu berat aku untuk menerima kerja diperusahaan tersebut dan dengan berat aku menolaknya pada beberapa hari setelah interview.
Yaah, masiih jobless, namun aku malah mulai jadi semakin cuek dari waktu ke waktu soal statusku yang jobless. Stress mulai berkurang, interview lain mulai berdatangan.
Dan suatu hari aku dapat email lagii untuk kembali interview di daerah yang sama dengan perusahaan Y, dan aku harus menggunakan pesawat lagi sebagai transportasinya.
Yaah, memang tak ku tahu khan hari esok. Namun aku akhirnya diterima di perusahaan yang paling terakhir mengontakku. Puji Tuhan. Aku malah diterima di posisi bukan yang ku lamar. Saat kirim lamaran juga, sebenarnya hanya iseng saja karena syarat yang dibutuhkan ialah 3 tahun pengalaman kerja sedangkan aku hanyalah fresh graduate dengan pengalaman kerja tak cukup setahun. Memang inilah jalan Tuhan. Aku harus selalu bangkit, dan berharap. Tak ku tahu khan hari esok, tak ku sangka kalau aku bisa kerja di Schneider. Perusahaan yang bergerak di bidang salah satunya produksi alat-alat listrik dan elektronik yang jelas-jelas sesuai dengan bidang dan minatku. Oh Terima kasih Tuhan. I am an engineer.

My short trip to Batam – with the airlines problem

^ ^ — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:37:30 +0000

Minggu, 3 Februari 2008. Waktu itulah jadwalku untuk penerbangan ke Batam. Mungkin anda sempat menonton berita, kalau pada hari sabtu sehari sebelumnya, ada sekitar ratusan pesawat yang dibatalkan penerbangannya. Bahkan tol ke arah bandara Soekarno-Hatta ditutup sampai pada hari minggunya. Nah, karena mendengar berita tentang masalah ke airport sedemikian rupa, akhirnya sayapun harus siap-siap dengan kemungkinan yang bakal saya hadapi dalam perjalanan ke airport nantinya. My flight was actually at 01.30 pm. But, I had to leave home at 7.30 am. Too early right? Toll ke bandara masih tutup. Jalan yang dilalui pun harus melewati jalan alternative. Berputar arah melewati Tangerang. Awalnya jalannya masih lancar aja, tapi mulailah kemacetan menyambut. Fortunalety, macetnya bentar doank, and I could be at the airport only in 3 hours, not about 5hours as being predicted.

Beginilah suasana Bandara Soekarno-Hatta. Banyak penumpang juga pengantar. Mungkin sebagian adalah penumpang yang terlantarkan. Akupun masuk untuk check-in, tapi tak menemukan counter khusus Batam. Ternyata, counter Batam telah digabung dengan seluruh penerbangan ke Sumatera. Jadi,.. ngantrii panjang dehh.

Jam 1 nya udah di ruang tunggu. Pesawat yang bakal saya gunakan adalah Lion Air. Jam sudah 1.30 pm. Tapi tak satupun petugas LionAir yang berjaga-jaga di sana. Wew,.. para penumpang lain mulai naik pesawat dengan tujuan beda. Khawatir sih iya,. Nanti sekirar jam 2, baru ada pengumuman kalau penerbangan ke Batam bakal di tunda 90 menit dari jam saat itu. Artinya, pesawat bakal berangkat jam 3.30 sore. OMG,.. lama banget,. Duduk, duduk, ba haga, ba uni, dll.. Jam sudah pukul 4. Para penumpang lain sudah mulai dartingan. qt lia so ada petugas yang bawa kotak makan, sepertinya untuk dibagikan. Dan hal itu ternyata benar. LionAir telah menyediakan makanan untuk penumpang yang terlandar seperti diriku. So lapar, cuma sandiri leeyy, De pe laste, jam 5.30 baru ada pengumuman para penumpang ke Batam sudah bisa masuk ke Pesawat. and Do u know what place I get in? It’s not Lion Air, but It’s Wings Air. Walaupun satu group, tapi pesawatnya beda. Mungkin so kekurangan pesawat kali’ ni Lion.

This is not my first experience, sitting alone at the waiting room in the airports. Many times, LionAir has done it to me. I had to wait more that an hour. Rasanya so nimau lagi booking Lion Air.

—-Jam 7.30 malam, I reached Batam. Perjalanannya 1.40 menit. Untung ada jemputan. The driver took me to the hotel,.. wow, mang kage toohh,, hahha jujur baru skrg tiq dapa kamar hotel pake ta pe nama, dapa bayar lagii dari company, im glad,. hihiii. Pas lia dari atas ada mall, maka qt pun langsung turun for pi di mall itu. Makan, soalnya so lapar, skalian ba bli ole2. Karna besoknya lagi udah harus balik ke jakarta.

hari senin, 4 Februari 2008, jemputanku akhirnya tiba. ternyata, tidak cuma saya yang dijemput. Ada lagi satu candidate. Dia juga katanya kemarin naik Lion tapi jam 10.30 pagi. Namun pesawatnya berangkat jam 1.30 siang. Waaah,. that can be inferred that Lion — memang sengaja, dan sudah tahu terlebih dahulu bakal ada delay pesawat yang panjangg..

so, bla, bla bla di Batam.. My visit was success there. Thank You to my Jesus Christ in Heaven.– just wait my official news what this is about.

I went home then. The company taxi driver took me back to the airport,. Untunglah, pesawat kali ini tepat waktunya. Beda sihh dengan sebelumnya. Yang ini Garuda Indonesia. de best abis lahh, dari pada ni Lion Air yang tukang terlambat.

Setiba di Jakarta, toll cengkareng telah di buka. Jadi tiada lagi macet waktu itu. I was home safely. Thanks God.