Checked Bucket List II
Category: Travel
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!
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.
Layered Twists
Twelve am and still awake.
Refered to the previous Dreams and Twists post, guess I really forgot another fact.
A dream fulfilled takes twist, yes. But, totally forgot, it has been layered twists. Always.
Just have another one which is quite shocking and makes this head spinning too fast.
Gladly, it has been resolved quickly and pricey. Sigh.
Really,Universe. Please stop joking.
It’s not funny, you know.
A Granted Wish : Happy and Sad
After 2012, right after having the second big dream, the passport was expired. A promise then made, it wouldn’t be renewed until the next destination was clear, which by that means the third big dream. The third one also the longest one I have been dreaming.
I truly, sincerely, wanted once the passport is renewed, I must have known that I would be going within short period. I promised I would have this certain visa stamped on the first page of the new passport. Other than that, no need to bother renewing the passport.
Today, the wish is granted.
Started a whole real journey three months ago, prepared all the requirements to apply the visa and made sure to have no mistake so it will have the least possibility of being unapproved. Been reading almost all available articles to avoid any mistakes.
Submitted the document a week ago, without any missing documents needed.
One week later, an email received said the passports had returned.
Went to collect it today and when the envelope was unsealed, then..
The visa was there.
Alhamdulillah.
The first thing came across my mind was my mother. She was the only one who really understands how much I have been longing for this one. Sadly, she was no longer here when I truly make it.
It’s such a big happiness to have the wish granted today, remembering all those things that I have been going through to get here. But, it’s quite sad knowing the person I really want to share this with was no longer here.
Maman, j’ai le fait. J’espere que tu me vois la bas. Je fait mon troiséme rêve.
Donc, au revoir à ton ville!
Je suis vraiment alleerrrrr!!!!!
Mengurus Visa Schengen 2016 di TLS Contact
Hari ini adalah hari yang paling melegakan selama tiga bulan terakhir sejak kenekatan saya di bulan puasa lalu.
Hari ini adalah jadwal yang saya pilih untuk memasukan berkas permohonan visa saya di TLS Contact. Setelah tiga bulan berkutat dengan pengurusan berbagai dokumen yang menjadi syarat mengajukan visa Schengen, akhirnya insya Allah malam ini saya bisa tidur lega.
Lho? Emang udah pasti diberikan visanya? Ya jelas belum. Saya lega karena semua usaha yang bisa saya lakukan untuk sampai ke mimpi saya, sudah saya lakukan. Hasilnya diterima atau ditolak, selalu, untuk hal apapun, termasuk ini, saya selalu percayakan ke Yang Punya Segala Urusan.
Bisa sampai tahap ini, setelah bertahun-tahun, sudah kaya setengah mimpi jadi kenyataan untuk saya.
Okey, kembali ke topik.
Jadi, sebenarnya, dokumen persyaratan visa Schengen ini mau dibilang susah ngga, tapi memang untuk saya yang mulai semuanya dari awal, bahkan dari pembuatan paspor, rasanya jadi sangat panjang.
Dokumen yang dibutuhkan untuk mengajukan aplikasi visa Schengen turis adalah :
1. Formulir aplikasi visa
Formulir ini bisa diunduh lalu isi tulis tangan ATAU kalau sudah mengisi pendaftaran online, formulir ini akan otomatis terisi dengan data yang kita masukan, dan tinggal dicetak. Saya pakai yang kedua. Lebih rapi dan praktis.
2. Bukti print tiket pulang pergi
Negara tujuan saya pulang pergi sama.
3. Bukti pemesanan penginapan selama di wilayah Schengen.
Saya hanya melampirkan satu bookingan hotel di satu negara. Saya anggap saya hanya akan memgunjungi satu negara. Entah nanti ternyata berubah, biar jadi urusan belakangan. Supaya ngga ribet juga. Toh tiket saya pergi pulang dari negara yang sama.
Saya pesan salah satu hotel di booking.com yang ada tanda pembatalan gratis. Waktu pembatalan gratisnya sampai H-2 waktu check-in. Jika insya Allah visa dikabulkan, akan langsung saya batalkan.
4. Surat pernyatan Bekerja/Sekolah
Surat ini dikeluarkan dari institusi tempat kita bekerja atau bersekolah. Saya dengan surat keterangan bekerja, suami surat keterangan sekolah.
Untuk formatnya sudah kami buat sendiri dulu dalam bahasa Inggris, berdasarkan referensi dari berbagai artikel. Seandainya ada yang perlu boleh tinggalkan email di sini ya.
5. Surat referensi bank
Untuk bagian ini saya memberikan dua surat dari bank yang berbeda, yaitu BCA dan BNI. Sebenarnya satu aja cukup, tapi saya punya pertimbangan lain.
Banyak saya baca, salah satu penyebab kemungkinan visa ditolak ini umumnya karena keuangan yang ngga meyakinkan. Jadi saya mau antisipasi supaya lebih mantep. Repot sedikit biar deh.
Saya sangat merekomendasikan untuk buat surat referensi ini dari BCA. Sebelumnya, saya sudah baca-baca kalo ini membutuhkan proses 2-3 hari kerja dengan biaya 50.000.
Kenyataannya?
Dengan waktu kedatangan di tanggal tua dimana bank ngga terlalu ramai, di kantor cabang yang cukup besar dengan jumlah staf yang memadai, proses yang dibutuhkan dari saya parkir sampai masuk lagi ke mobil dengan surat referensi plus rekening koran tersimpan rapi dalam amplop adalah…. 20 menit.
Iya, 20 menit saja.
Saya super terkesan sekali dengan cara kerja bank ini. Efektif, efisien, dan semua terlihat bekerja sepenuh hati.
Untuk BNI, prosesnya agak sedikit lebih ribet jika dibanding bank di atas. Kita harus membuat surat permohonan dulu kepada pimpinan cabang bahwa kita memohon untuk pembuatan surat referensi bank yang akan diajukan untuk pembuatan visa apa, ke kedutaan apa dan untuk tujuan apa.
Suratnya boleh ditulis tangan, bisa dibuat langsung di depan customer servicenya juga. Waktu pemrosesan surat ini sekitar 3-5 hari kerja dengan biaya 150.000. Tiga kali lipat yang di atas.
Saya tetap memilih melampirkan surat dari BNI bukan karena kebanyakan uang juga. BNI sudah jadi tabungan utama saya sejak kuliah. Aliran rekening keluar masuk tiga bulan terakhirnya pun lebih meyakinkan BNI. Jadi, saya memilih buat dua surat.
Dana di masing-masing rekening ngga banyak-banyak banget. Total keduanya kurang lebih 60 juta dengan rasio di BNI sedikit lebih banyak. Dana di BCA saya itu dana titipan yang saya pinjam dari Ayah saya.
6. Rekening koran tiga bulan terakhir
Ini adalah catatan keluar masuk uang kita selama tiga bulan terakhir. Untuk BCA biaya print perlembar Rp 2500 sedangkan BNI Rp 1000/lembar.
7. Asuransi perjalanan
Saya membeli asuransi dar AXA Mandiri. Datang langsung ke AXA Tower di Kuningan City lantai 18. Biayanya 59 USD untuk asuransi keluarga selama 9-10 hari perjalanan. Waktu hari saya datang jika dikurskan dalam rupiah Rp 764.000.
8. Pas Foto 3,5×4,5 sebanyak 2 buah
Kami buat foto ini di Mata Foto Matraman. Biaya cetak dan sebagainya plus CD untuk tiga foto adalah Rp 180.000.
9. Paspor baru yang masih berlaku minimal 8 bulan
10. Paspor lama, jika ada.
11. Kartu keluarga
12. Slip gaji 3 bulan terakhir (optional)
Slip gaji ini sifatnya optional. Tidak semua yang pergi adalah karyawan yang punya slip gaji setiap bulan, bukan? Termasuk saya. Jadi, waktu pendaftaran online saya pilih di kolom pekerjaan adalah freelancer. Meskipun saya bukan benar-benar freelancer juga. Di ringkasan data diri setelah selesai mengisi semua item pendaftaran online akan tercantum di bagian pekerjaan ‘liberal profession’.
Menurut petugas TLS Contactnya pun ini tidak terlalu diperlukan selama ada rekening koran. Tapi, seandainya memang ada, akan lebih baik lagi. Di lembar dokumen ceklis saya dicantumkan bahwa slip gaji tiga bulan terakhir ‘Not available’ agar tidak dianggap dokumen yang kurang.
Untuk anak dibawah umur seperti Langit juga harus ditambahkan :
– Akte kelahiran dalam bahasa Inggris. (Sekarang akte sudah ada bahasa Inggris di bawahnya, jadi ngga perlu repot cari penerjemah)
– Surat nikah kedua orang tua.
Semua dokumen ini perlu disiapkan asli dan fotokopinya. Yang berbentuk surat-surat seperti referensi bank dan rekening koran hanya satu aplikasi saja yang perlu asli, sedangkan anggota pemohon lain tinggal lampirkan fotokopinya saja, tentu kalau mendaftar sebagai satu keluarga ya dalam pendaftaran online.
Hampir ngga ada yang sulit sebenarnya kalau melihat dari daftar dokumen yang diminta. Cuma mungkin cukup memakan waktu persiapannya. Terutama kalau untuk saya tentang uang yang akan tercetak di rekening koran.
Saya membuat janji untuk memasukan berkas setelah semua dokumen saya lengkap kecuali surat referensi bank. Ketika mendaftar online, paling tidak paspor, tiket, penginapan, dan asuransi perjalanan sudah ada, baru prosesnya dinyatakan selesai.
Dokumen hanya bisa dimasukkan ketika kita sudah mendaftar online. Setelah semua sudah kita isi, untuk semua anggota keluarga yang akan berangkat, baru muncul pilihan kedatangan untuk pengumpulan berkas.
Pilihan tanggal ini hanya akan keluar jika sudah mencapai 90 hari dari tanggal kedatangan kita di negara Schengen. 90 hari persis ya. Bukan berdaasarkan tanggal yang sama, seperti mau berangakat tanggal 1 Oktober berarti sudah bisa pilih tanggal 1 Agustus.
Saya memilih tanggal 30 Agustus jam 9.00 pagi. Memilih pagi dikarenakan seandainya ada dokumen saya yang kurang, saya masih punya waktu melengkapi atau memeperbaiki di hari yang sama agar tidak harus membuat janji lagi.
Saya datang bertiga dengan waktu yang agak mepet. Sampai sana jam 8.45, setelah disuruh tunggu sebentar kemudian masuk lalu diarahkan ke sebuah loket. Tulisan di loketnya ‘Pengambilan Paspor’ tapi disana juga sekaligus tempat kita meminta kunci loker untuk menyimpan semua gadget yang kita bawa. Hp, tablet, ipad, tidak boleh masuk.
Setelah selesai, ada gerbang kecil dimana kita diminta paspor untuk verifikasi tanggal kedatangan. Setelah itu kita menunggu di ruang tunggu, sampai nama kita muncul di layar TV untuk masuk ke counter mana. Layar TV ini hanya menampilkan tanpa suara. Jadi harus diperhatikan.
Pada hari saya mengurus visa, keadaannya cukup penuh tapi ngga sesak. Kebanyakan orang mengurus melalui agen. Ketika nama kita muncul di layar, jika kita mengurus melalui agen, hanya agennya yang maju ke counter. Karena saya mengurus pribadi, saya maju dan duduk, sementara Pak Dokter berdiri gendong Langit.
Saya ngga banyak ditanya oleh petugas counter yang saya dapat. Pengecekan dilakukan cepat dan teliti. Setelah ketiga bundel berkas selesai diberi tanda bintang ungu, lalu diberikan cetakan bahwa dokumen kami semua lengkap. Keluar dari counter, dada saya ringan sekali.
Setelah itu kami menuju kasir untuk melakukan pembayaran. Total untuk dua orang berdasarkan kurs hari itu adalah Rp 2.592.000. Anak di bawah umur 6 tahun masih gratis.
Setelah loket kasir lanjut untuk pengambilan data biometrik yaitu foto dan sidik jari. Prosesnya hanya sekitar lima menit. Setelah itu selesai deh semua.
Semua petugas dari sekuriti sampai agen-agennya semua ramah. Sangat membantu dan jauh dari bikin takut.
Saya sampai di kantor TLS Contact Menara Anugrah lantai 3 jam 8.45, saya keluar dari basemen parkiran mobil jam 10.20. Jadi kurang lebih semua prosesnya 1,5 jam termasuk waktu nunggu. Bisa lebih cepat tentunya.
Review ini sebenarnya cukup banyak, cuma rata-tata di tahun 2013-2014. Selama beberapa bulan ini saya baca satu per satu.
Tidak seperti review lainnya, saya ngga menyebutkan ke negara mana saya akan pergi. TLS Contact adalah agen visa untuk beberapa negara Schengen. Untuk jelasnya negara mana aja, boleh dibuka websitenya.
Masih belum boleh disebut karena buat saya ini lebih dari sekedar pergi atau berlibur. Ada cerita panjang sampai akhirnya saya bisa ada dan melakukan yang saya lakukan hari ini.
Mungkin setelah visa ditempel di paspor saya, baru insya Allah mungkin ada cerita lain.
Semoga cukup membantu bagi yang mau mengurus visa di TLS Contact dalam waktu dekat ya.
Keputusan visa bisa dibaca di sini
Review lain tentang Paris trip :
Review : Air BnB 42 Boulevard Saint Germain, Paris
A Penny for My Pensieve 