Category: Places
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.
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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!
Checked Bucket Lists
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.
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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.
About travel souvenirs
Last week, brother-in-law came home from Manchester after pursuing master degree there. So we came to her wife parents house to say hello. He gave me a souvenir plate from Liverpool.
When I told le husband asked him why brother didn’t bring any chocolate or english biscuits or tea from Harrods, or scottish short bread, or something similar but a souvenir plate instead? Then le husand answered,
” oh, he gave you that? No wonder, he really loved that kind of souvenir, he bought it from every places he visited.”
The answer made me realize something. People will give to others something that they really love. At least, they will spend their money on something that they like. It goes same for me.
For me, that something is food.
My family has been eating home food most of the time. My mother is one of the best cook I’ve ever known. She almost could cook everything, deliciously. We take eating seriously. She was the one who introduced us to wide varities of food taste.
When we traveled we tried so many local foods. And when it comes to gifts, we surely gave kind of food to our grandma, aunties, and others.
My mum once brought six different kind of cheese when she came back from short course in Bretagne. She also brought tuna can in several different cute cans. When I was studying abroad, during my holiday and visited home, all that my family told me to bring home wad food. My mom asked me to bring five packs of five different flavor of White Town Coffee, Biscuits, Yoghurt, Garlic Spread, etc. The most epic one was, I brought three plastic full of indian curry with its roti canai. Yes, we were that passionate about food.
So, it makes sense that sometimes souvenirs are useless from the point of view of the receiver. Because they might not like what they receive. My sister almost never use the souvenirs that her mother in law gave her, which are clothes, which I also found it unwearable. Simply because it doesn’t fit her at all. The style, colour, pattern. Well, hm, a bit old and cheesy?;))
That is why food is always the safest choices. Who would throw away a box of good chocolate or a box of delicious cookies? And why Idul Fitri hampers mostly come with food? Because food is something we can share with everyone at home. Everyone can enjoyn it together. While we can’t do that with other things.
Good food is always comforting and makes everyone happy. Do you know that the taste of food is the best memory keeper? That is why people always seek the food that reminds them of their childhood. Of course, the happy one.
So, if someone goes somewhere and ask me what to bring home, my answer has always been the same.
I enjoy eating good food:)
The Second Big Dream “Hajj, The Greatest Trip” (Catatan Perjalanan Haji 1433H)
I’d been planning to go for Hajj in 2003. Right after I went for Umra with my family. First Umra.
I started saving since then. Luckily, I got my first job 6 months after that, so I could regularly saving.
I registered on December 2008, then 2 weeks later, my mum did it too. It was predicted that we would go in 2012. But, it turned out that our numbers listed in 2011. At that time, I was still in KL and my mum was in France. So, we deferred it until the next year.
I called it as my greatest trip for so many reasons. It is because the Hajj itself, which is great, and many circumstances that happened related to this. A week before we departed, things changed. There was a possibility that I would go by my self because my mum was not in good condition. She might go, and allowed to, but the doctoe suggested that she’d better stay. She decided not to go on Wednesday, while we departed on Friday, 19th October. Then, Thursday morning she changed her mind. She repacked her luggage and felt so sure about going there.
We departed to the Hajj dorm on Friday morning from Istiqlal. We stayed there until midnight then we went to the airport. Our flight departed at 5.45, Jakarta time and arrived at Holy Mecca at 11.45. It was such a long journey. It felt longer when your travel partner was not in good condition. I kept worrying about my mum. She could not sit for long period because of her stomach. It was aching all the time.
The stress continued after we arrived at Hajj airport, queueing in immigration, waiting for our luggage, taking a bath and miqot in the airport, waiting for another departure to the apartment,and so many more. After waiting for 4 hours, we got on our bus, which was non-air conditioner, and that 5-hours seemed much longer while my mum was sweating all along the journey. It was so heart-breaking to see her like that.
Hajj AirportWe managed to get our room early so she could have a rest first before we did the umra. We went to Masjidil Haram at 9 pm, by walk. I’d just visited the Mosque in 2010, but still, having this by my eyes once more never failed to make me shiver. It was so crowded. We parted from the group, so we finished Thawaf, Sa’i, and Tahalul only with other two members. We went back to apartment at 3.30 am. It was so tiring.
Holy Ka’bahSince Wukuf was only two days away, so we just stayed in our apartment, recharging the condition from the fatigues, preparing for the main Hajj rituals in 5 days ahead.
Wukuf started on 9 Dzulhijjah, or 25 october 2012. We arrived in Arafah a previous day after Maghrib. We stayed in tents together with all of Pilgrims all over the world. It started after Dzuhur until the sun set.
After Maghrib, we proceed to Muzdalifah for Mabit before staying in Mina for three days. In Muzdalifah we just stayed for few hours, collecting stones for Jumrah, and having light sleep above the rocky hill while waiting for midnight to go to Mina. Until there, I felt the rituals were nothing hard, but, the waiting, the queuing for everything, those were so tiring.
While I kept fighting to get the best spot in the bus, tent, or everywhere so my mum felt comfortable. I knew she was bearing so much pain, got her comfortable places everywhere we go, was the least that i could do for her. I prepared every small things that could help her feel more comfortable. I had hot water in my thermos, hot tea, dates, and biscuits in my backpack.
Mabit in MuzdalifahWe arrived in Mina at 2.30 am and then prepared for Jumroh Aqobah. This time, my mum didn’t go, because I could do that for her. We should walk about 6 km return to reach the place. But, Alhamdulillah, I was able to finish it. Mina was very hot. It was almost 50 celsius degree. The bathroom was so terrible, that was the hardest part of all Hajj rituals. Once again, not the rituals, but all the process in doing that.
Tents in Mina
Mina’s TunnelWe managed to return to mecca after the three days, or we followed ‘Nafar Awal’. How we returned to mecca could be another long story since it was kind of mess. The leader said that he already booked the bus, but it turned out that the bus couldn’t come. So, we had to walk for about 1,5 kilometers. It was fine for me, or others, but not my mum and elderly ones. Once again, i kept trying to talk to the leader to get the bus available as soon as possible, before the sun rises high. I kept insisting him, nagging, while others might think ‘what a fussy little girl’ and told me to be patient as if it was a trial in our Hajj. They could say that since they were not having their sick mum with them. I believe, if they did, they would do the same. Moreover, why bother, in the end, they were so grateful that I was being noisy. Because of that, we got the bus, and arrived in our apartment before the traffic stuck just an hour later. Stuck until midnight.
Normal traffic in our apartmentCompare to this on that day
Stuck from morning til midnightWe finished all the Hajj rituals on the next day by doing Thawaf Ifadah and Sa’i. This time, we just did it by ourselves. Mecca, especially Ka’bah was incredibly full. So crowded. But, alhamdulillah, we did our thawaf on the first floor, slowly. We finished Thawaf and Sa’i altogether within approximately 4,5 hours. Since my mum had to do it slowly and we stopped quite often, to drink and have a rest. If I reflected back, it was truly a miracle that we managed to complete our Hajj, with my mum condition. So, it only by Allah’s power we were able to do it. La Haula Wa La Quwwata Illah Billah.
The next days, I had a routine to wake up at 2.30 for preparing early breakfast for both of us. After having shower, then we went to the mosque for Tahajjud and Shubuh prayer. For few first days, my mum was able to follow it. Then, it became tiring for her. So, later, I just went there with Mbak Eni, my roommate and her mum. Since, I didn’t go with my mum, it was easier for me to find a spot for shalat. I stayed there until dhuha. I did Thawaf between subuh and dhuha, alone. That was one of my best me-time moments there. I circled the Ka’bah by my speed, prayed as much as i could, enjoying zam-zam after praying in Multazam and Maqom Ibrahim.
I returned to the apartment about 9 am. Bought nasi briyani nearby the apt for the brunch. Waiting for zuhur, I usually cleaned-up or washed the clothes. I did Zuhur and Ashar at home, then prepared for Maghrib and Isya at mosque.
So it run for 2 weeks there. But, then, I got another hard lesson there. That we could only truly have a plan, but, not decided whether it happened as we planned it or not. My mum was not getting any better. Then, in one afternoon, my father proposed to her to went home early. At first, she refused it. But, then, she finally agreed. It was something that hit me hard.
I thought only she would return, and I proceeded. Then, It wasn’t. My father asked me to join her. I just saw the text after having thawaf. I saw there were few missed-calls from him and a text. Asked me to go home too. I was in a complete silence for some times after reading it. Then the phone rang, my father talked to me. I was crying hard for minutes after hung up the phone.
I was crying inside the mosque. It was so silent and quiet, so I could cry peacefully. I remembered it was just less than an hour ago I prayed in my Thawaf that may Allah gave me a wider heart to accept all the things that He put in my life, all circumstances, good and bad. Then, without waiting too long, He gave me what I prayed for.
He gave me directly the thing that forced me to have this ‘ikhlas’. Instead of proceeding the Hajj to Madina, I had to go back to Jakarta. He fulfilled my wish to go Hajj before married, but, what I didn’t expect, It was how I had it fulfilled. Finished the main Hajj rituals, without visiting Madina and The Prophet. I accepted it quite slowly. Couldn’t help crying for it. Regretted it.
The next days the attention split between the preparation of going home while using my last minutes visiting the mosque and Ka’bah. I was busy going here and there to get all the documents needed because our case kind of abnormal. Returning early only feasible for those who were really sick according to doctor’s recommendation. But, my mum never visited any, because she didn’t want to. Fortunately, bless my father, the general director of Hajj affair was his colleague in Lemhanas. So, it made everything easier.
We had our Thawaf Wada (last Thawaf before leaving Mecca) on Saturday morning. That was the saddest moment of my Hajj. We did it slowly. She insisted to walk instead of wheel-chairing. She said that if it was her last being here, she wanted to do it properly, the best she could. It was very sad since it was truly her last:((
We stopped for a rest few times. We were so relieve when we finally managed to finish it. After praying for the last time in Multazam, suddenly she came to me and hugged me while saying, “Maafin ibu ya. Insya Allah nanti kamu kesini lagi sama suami kamu”. I didn’t want to translate it. That was the most emotional moment I’ve ever had. My mum hugged me in front of Ka’bah for the last time. I just realized that was her last hug too for me:'(
According to the plan, we would move to other group flight from Solo, because we didn’t get direct flight to Jakarta. So, our journey would be longer since we had to go to Jeddah first, stayed for one night, then proceeded to Solo, then to Jakarta. I couldn’t help feeling so worry remembering how far the journey would be and whether my mum would be able to make it. We were gonna spend so many hours on the plan, sitting, which was a big problem for her.
But, alhamdulillah, everything went well. Not that well, but we could go through it. No one could ever imagine what we had been going through. From Saturday until Thursday, when we finally arrived home. It was the longest 5 days I’ve ever felt.
My mum being hospitalized two days after. We supposed to go home from Hajj on November, 30th. But, the reality said that we went home 15 days earlier, but, my mum truly ‘went home’ at November, 30th. The ‘go home’ part was true, only the destination was different.
It’s not easy to finish this writing. It needs two months for me to finish it. I feel that I really to write this as complete as possible. For this was the greatest moment I’ve ever had with the person I love most in the world.
Sedikit tentang Kuala Lumpur
I intend to write in Bahasa, i don’t know whether it will be good enough (for me) or not. But, let’s have a try.
Selama satu setengah tahun tinggal di Malaysia, untuk ukuran full-time student, saya bisa dibilang tergolong ‘malas’ jalan-jalan. Tiap ada libur sebentar, yang dipikirin cuma cari tiket pulang ke Jakarta. Ngga usah libur lama, seminggu libur aja, langsung heboh cari tiket dari jauh-jauh hari.
Tiap pagi buka laptop, semua tab isinya cuma airlines website. Bandingin sana-sini, iya kalo langsung beli dan beres, ini ngga, ditungguin berhari-hari, kepikiran, bikin perasaan ngga enak, baru akhirnya beli. Padahal, kalau dipikir-pikir, uang yang dikeluarin buat bolak-balik Jakarta selama 1,5 tahun ini, bisa buat traveling ke negara tetangga kaya Thailand atau Singapur misalnya. Biarpun Singapur memang sudah pernah, dan ngga terlalu tertarik juga untuk kesana kedua kali.
Mungkin yang paling sering saya kunjungi selama disini adalah, ya, Kuala Lumpur,hehe. Ada beberapa tempat yang hampir saya selalu datengin, buat belanja, atau makan :
1. Sogo KL
Ini favorit banget karena affordable dan barang-barangnya pun oke. Dan yang paling suka, kalo majang tulisan SALE, beneran niat SALE. Ga kaya mal-mal lain yang bilang SALE tapi ya kaya ga SALE. Beli dompet 2x disini, beli kado buat beruang disini, mau beli oleh-oleh biskuit, coklat pun di sini.
Dulu, sebelum ngerti cara yang murah ke sini dr kampus, selalu naik Monorail yang merupakan alat transportasi yang paling mahal di antara moda transportasi lain di KL. Tapi, setelah diperhatikan,ternyata ada yang lebih murah. Naik KTM komuter dari Serdang sampai stasiun Kuala Lumpur (satu stasiun setelah KL sentral), setelah itu jalan sedikit ke belakang Kasturi Walk, disana banyak bus-bus metro yang siap nganterin ke Sogo dengan hanya RM 1 saja.
Bandingin dulu pas cuma tau naik monorail, ongkos yang diperluin buat PP kampus -Sogo itu kalo dijabarin KTM RM 1,7, Monorail RM 2,5, jadi pulang pergi sekitar RM 8,4, itu pun kalo beruntung ke kampusnya pas dapet naik bis kampus yang gratis, kalo ngga tambah RM 2 lagi buat naik bis T 416 dari UPM ke komuter Serdang. Jadi, kalo ditotal bisa RM 10 sendiri, yang mana, mahal lah ya buat ukuran mahasiswa (yang agak pelit kaya saya). Kalo dibeliin makanan, uda banyak bener kan,hehe.
Nah, setelah belajar dari kebodohan kesalahan dan mulai memperhatikan serta mempelajari, ternyata dengan naik bus metro lebih cepet, dan yang terpenting murah! Total biaya transport yang musti dikeluarin buat ke Sogo PP jadi cuma RM 5,6 saja. Lumayan kan bedanya. Buat saya si, jauhhhh,hehe.
2. Mid Valley Shopping Mall
Ini adalah salah satu mal yang paling ramai, menurut pengamatan saya. Hari biasa, apalagi weekend, Mid Valley kayanya ngga pernah sepi. Mal ini juga salah satu yang cukup dekat dari UPM dan lengkap. Makanan bervariasi, departemen store juga ada beberapa pilihan. Merek-mereknya pun beragam, dari yang agak menengah ke atas sampe yang toko pernak pernik kecil di gerobak. Kalo kuat jalan keliling di sini, cari dengan hati-hati, suka ketemu barang-barang fancy dengan harga yang buat saya oke banget. Kalau ROC habis juga biasanya dapet disini, karena ngga semua mal ada ROCnya.
Transport kesini ada dua pilihan. Saya tergantung dari kampusnya dapat bis apa. Kalau bis UPM datang duluan, berarti saya naik komuter, tapi kalau bis T 416 datang duluan, naik bis. Mid Valley punya stasiun komuter sendiri yang terhubung langsung dengan malnya. Jadi, begitu keluar kereta, jalan sedikit di dalam stasiunnya, naik lift, sampe deh di dalem malnya. Makanya, saya hampir selalu naik komuter, karena lebih praktis.
Tiap kali ke Mid Valley atau SOGO, saya merasa kaya lihat peradaban,hehe. Serasa kaya turis yang lagi liburan. Biarpun dikategorikan turis juga terlalu kere. Makanya selalu pilih di akhir bulan, karena musti lihat sisa budget bulan itu ada berapa. Hahaha, kesian bener ya:D.
3. Rumah makan sebelah Hotel Prescott Inn, Jalan Tuanku Ismail
Pertama tau rumah makan ini karena nginep di Prescott Inn pas pertama kali mau daftar ulang, bareng Ibu dan Dian. Masakannya, enaaakkkk. Bawal asam manisnya, kailan, cumi, pokoknya enak deh. Ini kaya warteg versi Malaysia yang nyediain makanan sehari, cuma bentuknya ya kaya restoran, dan yang paling penting, harganya, ck,ck,ck, murah benerr. Oh!Kalau di Malaysia mereka nyebutnya Kedai Mamak.
4. Kedai roti cane di Jalan Tun Sambathan
Ketemu kedai ini ngga sengaja pas lagi jalan berdua ibu yang waktu itu mau cari susu segar, eh, muter-muter tau2 ketemu resto kecil ini yang jual susu segar juga. Pesen susu segar, iseng mau nyobain roti canenya juga. eh, ternyata enak! Terakhir kali pulang, Ibu minta dibawain ke Jakarta, lumayan juga bawanya,hehe. Enaknya lagi, tempatnya bersih. Makanannya kaya Kedai Mamak, cuma tempatnya enak buat duduk-duduk, karena bersih dan ber-AC. Harga pun menurut saya cukup reasonable.
Restoran ini letaknya agak nyempil. Sederet sama stasiun monorail, kalau dari arah KL Sentral berarti sebelum stasiun monorail.
5. Old Town White Coffee Restaurant
Ini restoran tempat kita sarapan kalau nginep di MY Hotel Kuala Lumpur karena emang hotelnya kerja sama dengan Old Town yang letaknya persis di sebelah MY Hotel. Makanannya buat saya, dan keluarga, enak. Nasi lemaknya salah satu yang paling enak yang pernah saya makan selama di sana. Tempatnya pas buat ngopi-ngopi, ada yang outdoor dan indoor. Old Town juga merek kopi yang biasa diminum Ibu. Kalau ke Jakarta, pasti minta dibeliin barang 5 bungkus, dengan rasa yang beda-beda. Restoran ini relatif gampang dicari, karena hampir setiap mal punya ini. Kaya KFC aja lah.
6. Egg Tart KFC
Saya ngga suka junk food. Hampir ngga pernah ke KFC selama di Jakarta. Tapi, di KFC Malaysia, mereka punya Egg Tart!
Egg Tartnya, dua kata aja, : ENAK BANGET. Seriously, enak. Bayanginnnya aja ngiler. No further explanations.
7. Pasar Seni
Tempat ini cocok buat yang mau cari oleh-oleh dari Malaysia. Bangunan dua lantai berisi toko2 souvenir, coklat, dan lain-lain. Souvenir khas kaya magnet, miniatur, kaos, gantungan kunci ada semua disini. Buat coklat ada satu stand khusus coklat jual Beryl’s yang merupakan coklat produksi malaysia. Kalo saya ngga salah ingat, di sini juga ada Tourism Centre.
Sepertinya cuma segitu aja yang paling saya sering datengin selama di KL. Agak kesian sih, Satu setengah tahun di sana taunya itu-itu aja. Tapi, ya, gimana dong. Saya ngga pernah pergi kalau nggak ada kepentingan. I’d rather stay at dorm, watching movie,hehe. Tapi mungkin alesan sebenernya karena ya kere aja, hahaha:))
Sebenarnya, selain Kuala Lumpur, saya juga pernah ke beberapa negara bagian kaya Melaka, Johor Baru, dan Penang. Tapi, ngga bisa cerita banyak.
Melaka udah dua kali. Buat saya ini agak lucu. Pertama tahun 2008, waktu pergi sama Tante Lili. Ke Melaka sendiri, ikut rombongan tur, bayar RM 100 (kalo saya inget pas masih kuliah dulu, ngeluarin RM 100 dalam sehari cuma buat jalan-jalan kok tajir bener yaa,hehe). Berangkat jam 9 pagi, sampe KL lagi jam 5 sore. Waktu itu, pas banget lagi patah hati berat. Ini yang lucu. Empat tahun kemudian, saya ke Melaka lagi, one day trip juga, bukan sama rombongan tur. Tapi, sama orang yang bikin patah hati empat tahun lalu. Orangnya kebetulan lagi liburan. Dan, statusnya pas dateng juga udah pacar-serius-yang-udah-ngelamar-ke orangtua.Life is indeed funny;)
Ke Johor Baru dua kali, itupun karena roomate yang pertama orang Malaysia, a very very nice and kind girl, rumahnya di JB. Pertama kesana karena sepupunya nikah. Yang kedua kesana karena jalan-jalan aja. Ngga kemana-kemana, jadi ngga bisa cerita apa-apa.
Ke Penang one day trip juga sekeluarga, karena dapet tiket murah Air Asia. Tapi, kayanya bisa dianggep liburan gagal, karena kayanya kurang cocok sama peserta liburannya,hehe.
Kangen kesana, tapi, ngga tau kapan lagi bisa kesana. Semoga lebih cepat dari yang bisa saya bayangin. Amin.
Oh, KL also had been mum’s favorite destination after once she’d been there. Being there once more later without her, must be kinda sad..
A Penny for My Pensieve 