Author: arlanadya
Pas special, J'ai seulement besoin de beaucoup de privee
Review : Air BnB 42 Boulevard Saint Germain, Paris
https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/6903920
Air BnB adalah hal kedua setelah visa yang saya baca, baca, baca ( tiga kali biar mantep seperti perintah Al-Qur’an) dengan sangat intense. Setelah tiket dipesan, pencarian Air BnB langsung dimulai.
Sebelumnya, mungkin perlu sedikit digambarkan tentang Paris. Paris terbagi dalam dua daerah besar, right bank dan left bank yang mana keduanya ini dipisahkan oleh Sungai Seine. Daerah right bank lebih banyak turis dibanding left bank. Menurut bacaan saya, biaya hidup juga sedikit lebih mahal. Banyak atraksi dan tempat terkenal Paris letaknya di right bank seperti Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Bastille, Musée d’Orsay, dan masih banyak lagi.
Selain dibagi ke dua area besar, Paris juga terbagi ke dalam 20 area kecil yang disebut arrondisement. Pembagiannya adalah sebagai berikut : 1,2,3,4, 8,9,10,11,12, 16,17,18,19,20 arrondissement yang terletak di right bank, sedangkan 5,6,7, 13,14,15 arrondissement terletak di left bank.
Ada beberapa arrondissement yang lebih dikenal dengan nama khusus seperti Le Marais (4th arr), Batignolle ( 17th arr), Belleville (20th arr), Bastille (10th arr).
Awal pencarian Air BnB dimulai dari harga. Cari yang ngga terlalu mahal dan yang keluar di daftar kamar Air BnBnya adalah penginapan rumah atau apartemen yang letaknya cukup jauh dari pusat kota, seperti di 17,18,19,20 arr.
Liat ada beberapa yang menarik, sempet hubungin tuan rumahnya dan diberi pra persetujuan permohonan, tapi akhirnya ngga jadi diambil setelah baca lagi kalau tinggal di daerah yang cukup jauh dari pusat kota tidak terlalu menguntungkan. Banyak waktu terbuang hanya untuk nunggu bis atau metro.
Pencarian tahap kedua terus dilakukan dengan memfilter arrondisement yang dituju. Pilihan kedua ini adalah antara di 9,10,11,12, masih di right bank. Sengaja ngga cari diantara 1-4 supaya ngga terlalu turis banget ngga rame, dan ngga mahal. Ketemu beberapa, masuk wishlists, tapi ngga banyak yang saya hubungi hostnya.
Satu yang pasti saya jelaskan ke semua tuan rumah yang saya hubungi adalah bahwa saya akan bepergian dengan anak kecil dua tahun. Tidak semua menerima anak-anak. Di peraturan rumah kadang ada yang sudah mencantumkan tidak sesuai untuk anak usia 2-12 tahun. Jadi, selain area, filter utama yang saya gunakan di pencarian adalah terbuka bagi keluarga dan anak.
Selain filter, jumlah foto yang tersedia juga menentukan. Ada tuan rumah yang hanya mencantumkan tiga foto. Saya ngga tertarik biarpun harganya mungkin oke. Ada juga yang sampe 20an foto, bahkan 45! Semakin detil semakin enak. Jadi kita tau apa yang akan didapat.
Setelah beberapa lama, dan sampai akhirnya fix dipesan, pencarian Air BnB saya disempitkan di daerah 5,6,7, dan 15 arr. Kenapa? Karena dekat Grande Mosque de Paris yg terletak di 6 arr. Pikiran saya adalah akan lebih mudah cari makanan halal (yang ternyata setelah mengunjungi Grande Mosque, ngga terlalu bener juga).
5,6,7 juga terletak dekat Sungai Seine dan Notre Dame. Cita-cita saya pengen nongkrong dan bengong dekat Sungai Seine sambil liat Notre Dame. Alhamdulillah kesampaian.
Kalau 15 kenapa? Nah, saya pernah baca satu artikel, di 15 ini ada salah satu jalan yang namanya Rue de Commerce yang merupakan jalan penuh pertokoan kecil dengan harga yang ngga semahal kalo belanjanya di Champ Éllysées. Makanya saya agak ngotot cari disini. Ketemu beberapa tapi ternyata belum rejeki.
Setelah visa disetujui, beberapa hari kemudian akhirnya satu apartemen di Rue Cardinal Lemoine dipesan. Dari fotonya cukup oke, lantai dua, dekat jalan besar, banyak pertokoan, dekat stasiun metro, cukup oke dengan harga 650rb/ malem.
Setelah fix dipesan, saya mulai baca secara intensif tentang area ini. Ada satu yang saya kurang sreg dari Apartemen ini, hostnya ngga ada review. Sama sekali. Jadi agak khawatir juga sebenernya. Waktu juga udah makin dekat. Daftar wishlists semakin banyak yang tidak tersedia, sedangkan harga makin mahal juga.
Beberapa kali saya coba cari alternatif. Tapi ngga ada yang terlalu sreg banget. Ntah kenapa persaaan ada yang ganjel aja sama yang udah dipesan.
Dan, benar aja.
Seminggu sebelum tanggal keberangkatan, hostnya bilang ngga bisa nerima kita karena dia lagi bermasalah sama pemilik apartemennya. Ini pun kita tau karena kebetulan pocket wifi yang kita pesan harus dianter ke rumah. Jadi, perlu nomer kotak suratnya.
Waktu kita tau ini sudah jam 9 malem dan betul-betul panik. Rasanya ngga bisa mikir. Semua yang tersisa udah diluar kemampuan. Saya sambil komat-kamit baca doa terus ngga berenti nyari sampe jam satu pagi.
Hampir semua yang keluar di list harganya di atas sejuta dan itu bener-bener di luar budget dan kemampuan banget. Bisa sih ngutang pake kartu kredit, tapi saya ngga suka banget ngutang buat hal kaya gini. Abis pergi bayar tagihannya bikin ngga semangat.
Mungkin Allah itu ngambil sesuatu dari kita karena mau ganti yang lebih baik. Setelah ntah berapa puluh iklan diklik, tiba-tiba saya liat satu yang harganya masih masuk akal, di area yang saya mau, dan punya sekitar 8-10 review yang semunya bagus.
Langsung hubungin hostnya, langsung disetujui dan ngga sampe setengah jam, tempat baru terpesan. Baru bisa tidur.
——————
Pertama kali sampe di Boulevard Saint Germain, super happy. Liat cafe-cafe berjejeran, supermarket buat grocery, toko-toko kecil, apartemen cantik, bangunan-bangunan tua, ngga berenti senyum sendiri.
Sampe apartemen, bangunanya oke. Pintu masuknya berlapis. Tempat yang kita pesan di lantai enam. Satu kekurangan kecilnya adalah lift yang super kecil. Maksimal muat tiga orang dan cuma bisa berdiri lurus. Jadi, waktu bawa koper, saya dan Pak dokter ngga bareng. Karena ngga muat bawa koper gede sama orang. Biarpun kecil, tapi liftnya berfungsi dengan baik.
Masuk ke dalam kamar, semua terlihat rapi dan persis kaya di semua fotonya. Kalau menurut orang (sangat) kecil, menurut saya pas banget. Semua yang kita perlu ada disini. Terutama kita perlu ruang yang ngga banyak barang dan bikin kita beres-beres karena bayi yang suka geratak;)).
Di dalam kamar ini ada dua tempat tidur, satu double, satu single, dan yang okenya bukan sofa bed. Tapi tempat tidur beneran. Umumnya, sepanjang kita cari apartemen, kebanyakan pakenya sofa bed, bukan tempat tidur.
Ada lemari yang cukup besar, dapur kecil dengan dua gas listrik, pemanas air, coffee maker, tempat cuci piring, kulkas kecil dan peralatan masak lengkap. Meja makan lipat dan kursi tersedia juga. Kamar mandinya kecil dan bersih. WC, shower, wastafel, tentu semua dengan air panas.
Lampu tersedia hanya di tempat tertentu. Dua lampu neon di atas kompor listrik, dua lampu baca di masing-masing tempat tidur. Tidak ada lampu utama yang di tengah. Tapi, ternyata sangat menguntungkan. Jadi, kita hanya pake yang kita perlu. Karena ruangannya juga kecil, jadi ngga terlalu ngaruh ada lampu tengah atau ngga.
Laurent, orangnya yang mengurus apartemen ini, sangat oke (ganteng), respon cepat, dan sangat membantu. Kalo ada yang bilang Paris ngga ramah turis, Laurent orang pertama yang matahin itu. Kenapa pertama? Karena setelahnya saya ketemu berpuluh-puluh orang yang matahin pernyataan itu.
Secara keseluruhan, saya puas sekali tinggal disini. Cocok buat keluarga dengan satu anak kecil. Kalo dua anak, bisa juga mungkin, tapi ruang geraknya makin terbatas.
Jadi, kesimpulannya 42 Boulevard Saint Germain ini cocok buat yang ngga suka daerah terlalu turis (turis ada disini tapi ngga banyak), dekat beberapa stasiun metro, dilewatin banyak bis ke atraksi utama Paris, kalo malem tenang dan ngga berisik (sama orang mabuk, seperti waktu saya di Inggris), dan menyediakan semua yang dibutuhkan. Ngga lebih dan ngga kurang.
Kalo untuk foto, boleh liat di link paling atas. Karena kalo yang aktual, whoa, bikin ngga nafsu karena berantakan.
Semoga membantu (kalo ada yang membutuhkan).
Checked Bucket List II
About Paris III : The Choices
Everyone has their own way to enjoy their holiday and nothing’s wrong with that. Being in one of the city which has lots of museums for couple of days, is not necessarily makes me visit all those famous museums.
I enjoy parks a lot. So, visiting Jardin du Luxembourg, Jardin des Tuilleries, and soon Jardin des Plantes and any small parks is compulsory. I love eating and good food, so the money often goes to local food we try. Enjoying quiche lorraine, macarons Maison George Larnicol, Lamb Kebab from Resto de Louvre, Falafe du Liban, and next choosing the best croissant near Boulevard Saint Germain. I spent money happily for that.
I really love good shoes (with reasonable price), so I spent days going in and out to almost every shoes stores available in Boulevard Saint Michel, Boulevard Saint Germain, Rue Four, Rue de Rivoli, and any other small Paris street and it makes me happy (blessed my husband and my baby who were patiently waiting). Enjoying all the sceneries along the way during the walk, the smell of coffee and bread from the outdoor cafes, so pleasant.
I am not into art or too much of history. So, I skipped the famous Museum Rodin or Picasso any those museums that I don’t really understand. I feel it is unwise to spend the precious time and money for something I don’t enjoy.
So, in the end, holiday should be spent with those things we cherish a lot. There’s no must this and must that. You put lots of efforts to go to your dream places, make sure the efforts paid off by being happy and satisfied with the result of your efforts.
A bientôt!
The Twenty Third Month
How do I start this?
I didn’t know what to say to this almost two baby who has been amazed me more than I could imagine.
She survived her first long haul flight safely. Of course not smoothly, but really, for such little one who has never been to anywhere, even the nearest town, going this far, she really nailed it. She deserved every praises.
She had already gone to one of the most popular and beautiful city in the world at such young age, she must be very lucky. Even more, this city had been incredibly warm to her. Her smile attracted those people to play with her, her presence made us easier in so many things like skipping the line in museums, immigration, or as simple as going through the door.
Enduring the walks and strolls in such cold weather, twice a day, eating any food available, and surprisingly, beating the jetlag faster than we expected.
You were amazing, Langit Senja. Really, I have never been had a better teacher than you.
Happy 23, dear. One month to go until you’ve got a full licensed of breastfeeding ya.
Keep healthy and happy. Hope your steps will go further more than where we have taken you to.
Je t’aime beaucoup.
About Paris II : Full
Went around to more places yesterday and still felt so incredible whenever these eyes and feet arrived in each places that have been longed to visit and only be seen from the book and pictures.
Those beautiful gardens with breath taking autumn colors, the stunning glass pyramid, the old cathedral of the hunchback, and the river where Moon River sung and Kang Tae Young often daydreamed.
Having lots of walk to those places until the feet felt like jellies, the back ached, the hand felt very cold, yet the heart is absolutely warm.
As an absolute introvert who loves staying at home, going this far is surely something. Nothing will really move this heart to go so far, unless it is something really worth, important, and loved. And when I do it, I do it whole-heartedly.
When people have days to visit Europe, surely they won’t stay in one city for long. They will have at least two or three to visit. Decide to use all days in one city is bit wasted.
But, for me, in spite those conditions that prevent me, if I were going alone and had the same days available, guess I would still use all those days in this city.
This city is worth every pain years of waiting, every efforts made, and every failures happen during the making of the efforts.
It’s lucky I chose you, Paris. You should be honoured.
Thank you for the very warm welcome. I am full (of happiness).
Checked Bucket Lists
About Paris I : When Realities Exceed The Expectations
Currently writing from a tiny studio room on fifth arrondissement, Paris. The last 48 hours here, I am absolutely sold to this city.
I love the area we’re staying in. It is located near of everything we need and like. Sorbonne University, outdoor cafes, small shops, boulangeries and pattiseries, bus lines to every direction we want, I love the parks and pavements, small beautiful alleys, the architectures of the buildings, no noise of pub and drunken people at night, small studio which is suitable for a toddler since there’s none to be messed up. No additional work for us to take care the mess.
I love all those kind people we met. The metro officer who was willingly explain how to use the machine, the man in the cashier who Once refused to give me coins I asked for buying tickets, but ended give me a lot. The dames on the bus who were happily playing peekaboo with my baby. I love watching good fashion spread on the street. So chic and elegant. I love parisiens whom I met here.
In short, it feels less touristy and more like a true parisien.
We’re going out twice a day. We’re having a break in the middle to charge the energy. It’s too cold to stay all day outside. I can stand the cold since my eyes are to happy with what I have been seeing.
It’s too much gratefulness to be counted for.
Thank you for the late birthday present, universe. It pays off all the twists. More or less.
Merci beaucoup.
Finally…
Nice to finally see you by eyes, beautiful lady.
A crossroad at Boulevard Saint Germain
Autumn colours
Pont D’Iena and River Seine
No words needed. More pictures (and stories later) coming.
The Third Longest Dream Unlocked, First Ilana Trip : Autumn in Paris
Waiting for today feels like forever since last June. Looking back to all things happened in the last four months make the heart almost exploded of mixed emotions felt.
Let’s go through the past tunnel first, shall we?
Right after the first umra when I was 19, three goals were set to be accomplished before married :
1. Master degree abroad
2. Going Hajj
3. Going to this city
The first two were checked in the same year of the marriage, but not the third one.
This city has been My constant stomachache. Having the language teacher at home made me really familiar about this city. The books were everywhere. The language was also daily spoken. One or two or three words were often used whenever we discussed something.
First time learned the language at 11. Then, it was on and off. During high school, this was one of an elective subjects for two years. Maybe, other than me, no one enjoyed this subject at all.
It has been come closer for several chances. When we visited Manchester in 1994, we had BeNeLux and this country visa with us. Sadly, chicken pox stopped us from going. In 1996, the teacher was sent for a month summer course, but again, joined her was out of option.
The dream was off for quite some times.
Then, I started working on it seriously in 2008. It was a thought of accomplishing number one and three in one shot. Master degree in this country or other countries nearby. Wherever it would be, as long as it was getting closer to number three would be fine.
Had been applying lots of universities in The Netherlands and England and received quite offering letters. Sadly, the scholarship wasn’t available. Back then, scholarships were not widely available. Not to say I would surely get it, but at least could give it a try.
Since Europe was quite hard, then the plan was revised. Instead of doing number one and three, the focus and resources were all used on number one first. It worked better than having two things at the hands. Number one was checked in 2011, after almost two years of searching.
In 2011, life happened a lot. The wedding planning had started rolling. The chance of having number three done before the wedding day was getting thinner. While number two was confirmed, number three was too far to be seen.
In 2011 also, the news of the teacher sent to one of the city in that country broke my heart a lot. She actually supposed to go the previous year, but she had to unveil herself. She refused and declined the offer. Unbelievably, the chance came once more on the following year. This time, she was told that she could keep her veil. So, she did go. As if this opportunity was chasing her until she said yes.
What made it was pretty heart-breaking, it was me who had been trying hard for almost two years, but why it seemed the teacher, who didn’t do anything to go, was the one who could go. It wasn’t fair at all.
Right after Hajj, a month after, it was the wedding day. The hope of accomplishing all three had totally gone. The chance of going within visible time was pretty zero, with le husband’s residency on the running. Until the wedding day, when the teacher was no longer here, number three was still left untouched.
Two years after marriage, the baby came. The hope was even more fading. Let alone that far, going somewhere near for couple of hours now is even not easy knowing this little baby is waiting at home. In the wildest and worse thought, number three was halfly given up. Although, the thought of dying without going there gave me a broken heart.
God has always had a funny, unexpectable, and mysterious way in fulfilling our wish. This year fasting month brought a greater blessing than we expected.
It started when the idea of homecoming to Solo was popped. Since le husband is already in his last year of residency, the schedule has been quite loose. For the first time in four years, we went for a trip by plane. Although the cost made our saving screamed a lot.
Right after bought the homecoming tickets, an idea to check the cost of number three ticket came into mind. Did it as a guilty pleasure, like I have always been doing whenever remembering number three.
Checking several airlines, it turned out one of them currently had some promos. As the curiousity was getting higher, destination and some dates were typed. Nothing serious, just wanted to check how much it would cost.
When the monitor displayed the price for two adults and an infant, the first reaction was…numb.
Such price, return, for three person? Seriously?
It might be not that cheap, but calculating quickly on my head, it was doable. At least, affordable for us. The dates input had been chosen, according to my schedule.
Couldn’t help staring at the monitor for some time. The tab had been opened for a whole day. Went to bed sighing and thinking, it would be still impossible.
The day after had never been the same. It made me checking the website every single day. Reading a lot of reviews. Comparing to almost every airlines possible. Discussing things with le husband, my father, and also my saving account.
For at least 12 days ahead, I had numerous disturbed sleeps. While le husband kept telling me just clicked and bought the tickets, while the courage was there. Telling me that I had been longing for this too long. Maybe it is really the time.
The courage came after sahoor in Ramadhan. The tickets were bought. Never in my life I spent money that much on something. For a stingy person like me, the amount spent was too scary.
Strangely, this time, instead of guilt, it felt good.
Those tickets bought were the first real thing I have done about number three. Although few months later I am still paying the debt for it, it is worth all the pain of having debt for.
The next morning, passports were being registered online and after two weeks, the new passports were ready. Passport done, the next step was one of the most important things about number three. One process which sucked almost your energy, time, and money : Visa application.
Preparing for visa was one of the most exhausting yet enriching steps about number three. It made me do lots of reading, if not to say too much reading. Almost all available articles, with any possible keywords were being read. Made sure I didn’t miss anything for my visa documents so it would be approved or before that, at least no document missing when we came to submit it.
One week after documents submission, the passports were returned. Opened the sealed envelope in front of the locket, opened the passport and… the stamp was there.
It was really there until I really wanted to cry.
The visa was there.
My permission entry to enter this country was granted.
Then, (Maybe), it is really the time.
———————
For me, it’s not a simply mere vacation. Nor an ordinary family trip.
It feels like going for another smaller Hajj. Going to the place which make your heart beating fast and has been giving you a constant stomach ache for almost three fourth of your life.
The place where you almost read everything about that, speaking the language (trying hard) like its people, knowing something about this place more than any common knowledge.
When usually people are having at least two or three countries to visit with their visa during their travel time, I (we) decide only to visit this one country, in this one city. I won’t be a hopping tourist. (Well, it’s actually a soft translation of the money is limited;))).
This one might sound too mainstream for many people, but not to me. It’s the place where some parts of the teacher’s soul lived. By the teacher, I have been talking about my mother.
The teacher who had been teaching me not only about the country and its language, but the more importantly, she taught us about having dreams and working on it until we make it.
Half of this journey, maybe about showing her up there, this time, I finally make it for my third biggest dream. She knew for sure I have been longing number three since a very young age. Sadly, she is not here to cheer with me like the previous two. But, I hope she would be proud to see everything that I have done to make this one real.
The initial plan was going alone, strolling here and there, taking pictures, resting for coffee and cake near the river, shopping till the wallet drop, visiting places on the list every single day all day long, having a day trip to the nearest cities, and many more of self-pleasing things. An ultimate self trip to end my 20s.
It turns out I am going with another two people. One of them is a baby, which gives me a lot of concern. Double and triple preparations, while having less and lower expectation. Instead of the strong 20s, it’s the less agile 30. God truly gives all my dreams checked, according to His will, not mine.
Dream then work on it to the fullest, I am the one who will decide the result, He said.
Then, let’s accept the result.
To the city where my heart has been constantly wrenching for after Mecca and Medina, here I come. I’ll see you there, Mom.
October 25, 2003 : the departure day of the journey when the three dreams were set.
October 25, 2016 : the departure day of the third and longest dream.
Missions accomplished.
Bismillah, off we go.
A Penny for My Pensieve 