Posted in Favorite things, Thoughts, Travel

Tentang Mimpi dan Haji (Bagian 2)

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Sore hari sehari sebelum 9 Dzulhijjah, semua calon jamaah haji bergerak ke Arafah. Kami sudah disuruh siap-siap dari setelah zuhur dan ternyata baru benar-benar berangkat jam 5.30. Sabar adalah salah satu hal yang paling wajib dibawa dalam menjalankan rangkaian ibadah Haji ini. Sabar nunggu, sabar antri, sabar semuanya.

Sampai Arafah, kita akan ditempatkan di tenda-tenda sesuai dengan kelompok negara dan Kloter. Di dalam tenda hanya ada karpet yang bisa digunakan untuk rebahan, tentu berbagi dengan jamaah lain. Kamar mandi di Arafah cukup banyak dan masih bisa saya tolerir.

Wukuf dilakukan pada tanggal 9 Dzulhijjah sampai matahari terbenam. Ini seperti berdiam diri, memperbanyak doa dan zikir, tapi juga diselingi sedikit ceramah. Tiap kloter bisa berbeda-beda. Dianjurkan doa sebanyak-banyaknya ketika wukuf karena iu adalah salah satu waktu yang mustajab.

Menjelang maghrib, perjalanan dilanjutkan ke Muzdalifah. Jarak antara Arafah dan Muzdalifah cukup dekat tapi jamaah Indonesia kebanyakan naik bis yang disediakan. Banyak jamaah dari negara lain yang berjalan kaki dari Arafah ke Muzdalifah. Memang yang dicontohkan Rasulullah berjalan kaki, tapi tetap bisa disesuaikan.

Di Muzdalifah hanya bermalam, yang maksudnya adalah kita harus sampai disana sebelum tengah malam, dan lewat tengah malam, kita akan melanjutkan perjalanan ke Mina. Di Muzdalifah ini juga kita harus mengumpulkan batu yang akan digunakan untuk melempar Jumroh di Mina. 

Muzdalifah seperti lapangan besar yang berisi manusia. Buat saya, mungkin ini gambaran paling  nyata ketika nanti kita dikumpulkan di padang Mahsyar. Di bawah langit Muzdalifah, pemandangan lautan manusia ini benar-benar buat saya merinding.

Lewat tengah malam, bis-bis yang akan membawa jamaah ke Mina sudah menunggu. Di sini, seluruh jamaah berbaris menunggu gilirannya naik ke bis. Momen ini buat saya terasa seperti saat kita akan menunggu dihisab. Mungkin agak.sulit dimengerti, tapi coba bayangkan ratusan ribu (ato jutaan?) manusia dari berbagai belahan bumi, berkumpul di satu tempat, mengantri  untuk diangkut ke tujuan berikutnya, tanpa bisa kita bedakan asalnya. Di situ saya merasa kalo ini yang dimaksud semua manusia sama di hadapan Allah. Dengan pakaian ihram yang nyaris ngga berbeda, semua manusia ini benar-benar terlihat sama.

Mina merupakan hal terberat yang saya lewati selama proses ibadah haji. Ini yang akan saya jadikan alasan utama kenapa haji akan lebih baik dilakukan ketika muda.

Di Mina kita akan tinggal beberapa hari untuk melontar jumroh. Kalo wukuf dan mabit di Muzdalifah memang harus dilaksanakan sendiri, melontar jumroh adalah ibadah yang bisa diwakilkan, meskipun tetap di bermalam di Mina. Saya mewakilkan ibu saya karena kondisinya tidak memungkinkan untuk berjalan jauh.

Tempat dari tenda ke  tempat melontar jumroh cukup lumayan jauh. Mungkin sekitar enam kilo bolak balik dan itu dilakukan selama tiga kali dalam tiga hari. Waktu yang paling dianjurkan adalah setelah matahari terbit agak tinggi, sekitar jam 7-8. KBIH saya memilih untuk lebih awal karena mempertimbangkan kondisi jamaahnya yang kebanyakan orang tua yang akan sulit berdesakan dan menahan panas matahari. Kami biasanya melontar sebelum subuh.

Jika menilai hanya dari ritualnya, ngga ada sama sekali yang berat dari Haji. Wukuf hanya berdiam diri duduk dan berdoa. Mabit di Muzdalifah hanya duduk, boleh kalo mau tiduran kaya saya, pake tiker lipet di atas bebatuan, dan jangan lupa mencari batu, Mina hanya bermalam dan melontarkan batu-batu yang kita kumpulkan ke tiga tiang Jumroh. Thawaf hanya berputar mengelilingi Ka’bah, Sa’i hanya berlari kecil dan sebenernya bisa jalan juga sesuai kemampuan, Tahalul hanya menggunting rambut, yang jumlahnya ngga seberapa.

Semua ‘hanya’. Yang membuat hal-hal tersebut cukup berat adalah proses yang harus dilewati untuk melakukannya. Buat saya, pengalaman di Mina cukup menguji kesabaran.

Sejauh-jauhnya perjalanan dari tenda ke tempat Jumroh bolak balik, ngga seberapa dibanding kan apa yang harus dilewati seharian di tenda. Tenda di Mina (yang saya dapat) cukup sesak untuk dibagi dengan jumlah anggota rombongan saya. Masing-masing hanya bisa cukup rebahan dalam posisi terlentang tanpa bisa hadap kanan kiri. Tendanya ada pendingin tapi ngga berpengaruh banyak karena orangnya pun cukup banyak. Cuaca di Mina pun sangat panas. Siang bisa mencapai 45-47 derajat celcius. 

Saya selalu meletakan handuk basah di kepala saya ketika akan ambil wudhu di bawah. Selesai ambil wudhu dan balik ke tenda, handuk sudah kering. Wudhu lima menit bisa bikin handuk basah jadi kering? Tentu tidak.

Jangan bayangkan seperti wudhu di mesjid yang cuma lima menit selesai. Kalo waktu zuhur itu jam 12.00, maka di Mina sebaiknya antri wudhu itu dilakukan dari jam 11.15. Iya, 45 menit. Apalagi kalo ditambah mau buang air kecil dulu. Antri kamar mandi di Mina adalah hal yang paling menyeramkan selama ibadah haji.

Bukan sekedar antrinya, kamar mandinya pun sama menyeramkannya. Kotor, bau, buat yang jijikan dan paling cerewet sama kamar mandi kaya saya, ngga ada yang menyiksa dari ini. Lebih parah lagi, banyak juga jamaah dari negara kita yang yah… sulit juga. Antri segitu panjang, bisa-bisanya nyuci baju di dalem selama 20 menit!

Ini ngebuat yang antri pun ngga sabar, dan melakukan hal yang sama menyeramkannya. Buang air kecil di tempat wudhu. Saya rasanya tiap waktu solat pengen nangis sekali. Sampai tempat wudhunya pun bau pesing. Dan kami harus bertahan di Mina selama tiga hari. Salah satu tiga hari terpanjang di hidup saya.

Kembali ke Mekkah, saya dan rombongan memilih berisirahat dulu dan baru menyelesaikan Thawaf Ifadah dan Sa’i keesokan harinya. Setelah lima hari perjalanan, berdesak-desakan di Masjidil Haram bukan pilihan yang bagus. Kami menyelesaikan Thawaf dan Sa’i keesokan harinya setelah sholat subuh. Saya dan ibu saya memisahkan diri supaya bisa lebih santai. Kami mulai thawaf sekitar jam enam dan baru selesai  sa’i menjelang zuhur. Selama itu karena kondisi yang cukup penuh dan kondisi ibu saya yang mengharuskan kami berjalan lebih lambat dan banyak beristirahat.

Hari-hari selanjutnya adalah liburan full yang hanya diisi dengan makan, tidur, ke mesjid, belanja, jajan, ibadah lain, tidur lagi, dan seterusnya. Paling sama nyuci baju ya . 

Untuk jamaah haji DKI, Pemdanya cukup berbaik hati karena makan siang dan makan malam jamaah hajinya ditanggung. Ini tidak semua. Jamaah haji daerah lain rata-rata entah masak sendiri atau cari makan di luar. Bahkan Bekasi pun tidak dapat makan. 

Selain makan, jamaah haji DKI juga mendapat fasilitas bis khusus yang membawa kita ke Masjidil Haram dari maktab. Tinggal tunjukan kartu pengenal haji, bisa naik. Bis Indonesia juga ada tapi lebih penuh. Bis DKI ini kosong, bersih, dan nyaman. Beberapa kali petugasnya pun mau mengangkut jamaah haji darerah lain karena bisnya masih kosong. Pemberhentian bis DKI ini pun lebih strategis, yaitu di pintu utama Masjidil Haram. Sedangkan bis Indonesia lewat pintu Sa’i di bagian belakang.

Kalo urusan belanja, orang Indonesia emang ngga ada lawan. Seakan-akan uangnya ngga habis-habis,hehe. Karena sudah tiga kali kesana, saya ngga banyak belanja printilan-printilan. Saya dan ibu saya sudah tau mau beli apa dimana. Oleh-oleh parfum dan sajadah ada toko khusus langganan kami di Hilton. Harga sedikit di atas, tapi kualitas dan model jauh dari pasaran. Teman sekamar saya senang sekali waktu dibawa ke Museum. Belanjanya kalap. Bahkan balik lagi sendiri sesudahnya.
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Satu hal yang agak memprihatinkan, meskipun setiap tahun jamaah Indonesia itu yang terbesar, tapi ngga sebanding sama fasilitas yang didapat. Seperti tenda waktu di Mina. Punya jamaah Indonesia itu jauh, panas, dan yah seperti yang saya ceritakan di atas. Waktu saya lewat tendanya Malaysia, duhh, enakk bangett. Deket dari tempat jumroh, dingin, luas, makannya prasmanan, dan saya yakin kamar mandinya ngga separah punya kita. Di Mekkah pun sama, Maktab jamaah Indonesia rata-rata cukup jauh. Saya untuk sampai ke Masjidil Haram kalo naik bis Indonesia harus ganti dua kali. Sedangkan maktab jamaah Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore itu semua bisa ditempuh dengan jalan kaki lima menit. Benar-benar di belakang Masjidil Haram. 

Buat saya ini penting ya. Pengennya pasti selama kurang lebih sebulan di Mekkah bisa memaksimalkan ibadah di Masjidil Haram. Kalo bisa lima waktu semua di Masjid. Bisa thawaf di antara waktu solat. Jarang yang dekat sangat membantu. Jarak maktab saya dan mesjid membuat saya ngga memungkinkan untuk solat lima waktu tiap hari.

Jadwal yang bisa saya efektifkan adalah jadi berangkat sebelum subub untuk Tahajud sekalian nunggu subuh. Setelah subuh saya thawaf sampe waktu dhuha. Setelah dhuha saya pulang untuk beres-beres, nyuci, dan istirahat. Zuhur saya lewatkan. Sebelum Ashar saya brangkat lagi untuk ashar sampai maghrib. Sambil nunggu sambil ngaji atau ngeliatin Ka’bah aja. Setelah maghrib saya pulang. Isya di rumah. Lho, ngga tanggung?

Iya emang tanggung. Tapi, saya udah dari ashar dan cukup cape kalo sampe isya. Setelah isya juga bisnya penuh sekali. Ibu saya pun udah nunggu di Maktab. Ibu saya karena sakit, lebih banyak di Maktab. Dia pasti nunggu saya makan malem. Jadi, itu semaksimal yang bisa saya usahakan dengan jarak maktab yang saya dapat.

Saya sehari-hari ke Masjid kalo ngga sama teman sekamar saya terpaksa sendiri. Supaya ngga kliatan sendiri, saya suka nguntit aja di belakang jamaah yang gerombol. Karena emang ngga nyaman terlihat sendiri disana. Tapi, kalo ngga gitu saya bisa ngga ke mesjid terus. Ketika udah sampai mesjid, udah ngga gitu masalah karena ngga terlihat. Justru sendiri lebih gampang nyelip ke depan cari tempat. Target saya itu tiap solat adalah saya mau lihat Ka’bah. Sebisa mungkin saya akan maju ke depan dimana Ka’bah terlihat dengan jelas. Rugi jauh-jauh cuma liat tembok atau orang.

Waktu shalat Jum’at adalah yang terpadat selama di Mekkah. Saya hanya ikut dua kali. Setelah yang kedua sangat trauma karena hampir kehabisan nafas berdesakan waktu keluar Jumatan. Betul-betul padat dan mengerikan. Saya hampir pingsan kalo ngga ditarik oleb seorang bapak-bapak keluar kerumunan. Berdesakan dengan jamaah Afrika yang tinggi dan besarnya berapa kali lipat saya bukan pengalaman yang menyenangkan.

Oya, memakai alas kaki yang nyaman itu wajib hukumnya kalo naik ONH biasa. Supaya kaki ngga lecet karena harus banyak jalan. Jangan sekali-kali pake sendal jepit kaya mau sholat ke mesjid dekat rumah. Pake yang sol tebel dan nyaman. Crocs dan sejenisnya ngga disarankan. Mahal dikit ngga apa. Buat ibadah juga. Kalo kaki lecet malah ngga bisa ibadah karena ngga bisa jalan. Lebih banyak ruginya.

Sampai tahun 2008-2009, waktu tunggu haji masih sekitar 3-4 tahun dari dapat nomer porsi sampai waktu berangkat, dengan ONH biasa. Kalo pake yang plus bisa tahun itu juga. Mulai 2012, waktu tunggu DKI sudah jadi … 10 tahun. Sekarang terakhir saya dengar sampai 15-16 tahun. Bahkan ONH plus pun pake waktu tunggu sekarang. Mungkin sekitar 5-7 tahun, jelas dengan biaya yang lebih mahal.

Hal ini juga jadi alasan Haji, atau daftar Haji sebaiknya dilakukan sedini mungkin. Dengan waktu tunggu yang segitu lamanya, sedih bukan kalau kita punya kemudahan dari segi umur dan rejeki tapi ngga pernah sampai kesana untuk Haji. Cuti Haji di Indonesia ngga usah dipusingin, hampir pasti dikasih Haji itu sangat fleksibel dan bisa dinego.

Ketika kita udah punya 25 juta cash, bisa langsung daftar ke bank untuk buka rekening Haji dan langsung urus ke kanwil depag di domisili kita untuk dapat nomer porsi. Berangkat naik ONH plus atau biasa tetap harus dapat nomor porsi dulu. Ngga masalah ketika di antara waktu tunggu kita punya rejeki lebih mau pergi dengan ONH plus supaya berangkat lebih cepat. Juga lebih nyaman harusnya.

Dua puluh lima juta ngga sebanyak dan sesulit itu kalo memang sudah niat. Kaya harga tiket ke Eropa ngga promo naik maskapai yang bagus. Disegerakan ketika kaki masih tegak berdiri dan langkah masih kuat berlari. Urusan jadi berangkat kapan serahkan sama Yang Mengundang. Yang penting kita sudah usahakan apa yang jadi bagian kita.

Semoga hati, rejeki, umur, dan langkah kita dimudahkan untuk menggenapkan rukun Islam yang terakhir ini. 

Selamat berhaji untuk semua jamaah haji yang berangkat tahun ini. Semoga Allah mudahkan selamat sampai kembali ke tanah air dan mendapatkan haji mabrur. Amin.

Posted in Favorite things, Thoughts, Travel

Tentang Mimpi dan Haji (Bagian 1)

Beberapa tahun belakangan, traveling seakan jadi hal baru yang bisa dianggap seperti sebuah pencapaian, selain hal-hal seperti barang-barang bermerek, entah baju, sepatu, mobil, atau apapun itu. Satu kemudahan seperti harga tiket yang kadang level murahnya kebangetan bisa buat traveling jadi hal yang memungkinkan bagi banyak orang. 

Salah satu hal terbaik yang saya dapat dari orangtua saya adalah frekuensi dan kualitas bepergian yang mereka berikan buat anak-anaknya. Frekuensi yang dimaksud bukan artinya tiap liburan bepergian. Tapi, hampir semua trip keluarga yang mereka berikan, saya ingat semua dengan baik sampai puluhan taun kedepan. 

Mulai dari trip pertama ke Manchester dan beberapa kota di Inggris, road trip keliling pulau Jawa, umroh pertama dan kedua,beberapa trip kecil lain seperti waktu saya S2 pun tetap sama berkesannya. Tapi, di atas semua itu, Haji adalah yang paling berkesan.

Musim haji tahun ini sudah dimulai. Calon Haji kloter awal sudah ada yang sampai di Madinah. Biarpun ngga pergi, setelah Haji di tahun 2012, tiap musim haji saya selalu senang. Liat persiapan orang yang berangkat, liat pengalaman mereka disana lewat instagram. Ikut senang karena melihat orang-orang yang akan menjalani salah satu perjalanan terbaik di hidup mereka.

Saya ngga akan cerita panjang lebar tentang pengalaman Haji seperti disini, tapi mungkin lebih ingin berbagi pertimbangan mengapa Haji akan lebih menyenangkan dan mungkin menguntungkan jika dimasukan sebagai salah satu bucket list traveling selagi muda. 

Setelah umroh pertama waktu usia 19 tahun, saya punya tiga bucket list yang mau saya coret sebelum menikah. S2 di luar negeri, Haji, dan yang ketiga belum bisa disebut karena sedang dan hampir dicoret, jika memungkinkan.

Diantara tiga, dua teratas Alhamdulillah bisa tereksekusi di tahun yang sama. Lulus S2, Haji, dan menikah Allah kasih ketiga hal tersebut dalam waktu enam bulan. Juli, Oktober, Desember.

Persiapannya jelas ngga enam bulan. Haji dimulai ketika selang enam bulan dari umroh pertama, saya dapat kerjaan tetap. Umroh pertama itu ketika Ramadhan 2003, ketika saya semeater 1 kuliah, dan saya jatuh cinta sehabis-habisnya dengan dua kota itu. Sepulang dari sana,  saya memutuskan untuk berhijab dan punya tujuan menabung yang sangat jelas. Setelah empat tahun, selesai kuliah, saya akan pergi haji dulu insya Allah.

Ada alasan kenapa hal sekecil niat itu jadi sangat penting dalam mengerjakan apapun. Saya hanya mengucapkan hal diatas dengan lisan, trus bilang juga ke ibu saya. Tapi, ngga bener-bener tau gimana caranya bisa merealisasikan itu dalam empat tahun, selain nabung dari uang bulanan yang mungkin ngga seberapa. Kalo dengan matematikanya manusia, ngga bakal bisa juga nyampe ke jumlah yang diperlukan untuk naik Haji empat tahun lagi.

Tapi, kaya umur dan jodoh, rejeki itu emang ghaib. Enam bulan setelah umroh, saya dapat kerjaan tetap dengan gaji tiap bulan. Pendapatan saya jadi meningkat drastis. Masih kuliah tingkat 1, kebutuhan ngga banyak, ngga suka belanja juga, saya putusin untuk buka satu rekening khusus (bukan rekening haji) untuk biaya naik haji. Rekening yang cuma boleh masuk tanpa bisa keluar kecuali udah kepepet.

Empat tahun kemudian, tahun 2007, jumlahnya jelas masih jauh dari yang dibutuhkan. Buat dapet nomer porsi juga belum sampe. Tapi, jumlahnya sangat lumayan dan saya putuskan untuk pindahin itu ke rekening khusus haji di salah satu bank. Toh, untuk daftar nanti pun memang harus ada rekening haji di bank. 

Ada jeda kurang lebih 9 bulan dari saya lulus sampai saya dapet pekerjaan kedua yang saya suka dan full time. Jadi, saya punya dua pekerjaan yang dua2nya saya suka, baik pekerjaannya maupun uangnya. Enam bulan setelah melakukan dua pekerjaan senin-sabtu, saya dateng lagi ke bank, masukin sisa untuk genap 20 juta dan dapet nomer porsi.

Mendapatkan nomer porsi bukan semudah dateng ke bank ya. Setelah urusan surat-surat di bank selesai, kita harus urus sendiri ke kanwil depag di domisili kita. Saya ngurus sendiri waktu itu. 

Depag bukan terkenal dengan pelayanannya yang cepat, ramah, apalagi efisien. Saya sempat menghabiskan beberapa hari bolak balik sampai akhirnya semua dokumen beres dan saya dapat prediksi  berangkat di tahun 2012. 
Mengeksekusi mimpi itu perasaan yang benar-benar luar biasa.

Jeda antara 2008-2012 saya gunakan untuk nabung sekaligus ngerjain mimpi yang pertama. Tahun 2009, saya dikasih pekerjaan ringan dengan uang lumayan. Jadi, saya kerja senin-minggu. Cape? Jelas. Seneng? Lebih jelas. 

Bukan sekedar nabung, tapi saya secara rutin beli dolar. Tiap sampe punya uang 10juta saya langsung dateng ke ayumas, beli 1000. Bahkan sempet punya rekening dolar karena kalo disimpen sendiri lumayan (kebanyakan maksudnya? Yaa gitu deh..).

Perkiraan biaya haji di tahun 2012 adalah sekitar 37 juta. Kemungkinan turun naik bisa bervariasi. Ternyata, yang bervariasi bukan hanya biaya, tapi juga waktu berangkat. Tahun 2011, waktu saya masih sekolah, petugas depag menelpon ke rumah kalo nomer porsi saya dan ibu saya masuk ke dalam calon haji tahun itu. 

Perasaan saya benar-benar campur aduk. Segini di depan matanya tapi kok ya pas banget ada hal yang ngga bisa saya tinggalin. Kebetulan ibu saya pas juga lagi di Prancis. Ibu saya sudah naik Haji sebelumnya. Beliau memutuskan ikut lagi dengan niat memperbaiki Hajinya yang pertama. Dan mungkin karena mau nemenin saya.

Akhirnya dengan berat hati saya ajukan bahwa saya ngga bisa berangkat tahun itu dan otomatis nomer kami akan masuk tahun depan. Toh memang awalnya prediksi berangkat adalah 2012.

Saya pergi Haji dengan ONH biasa yang durasinya 40 hari, dengan ikut grup KBIH dari masjid istiqlal. Ada biaya tambahan jika kita ikut KBIH tertentu. Waktu itu biayanya sekitar 4 jutaan. 40 hari mungkin terdengar lama, tapi tidak ketika kita udah sampai sana.

40 hari itu terbagi kurang lebih 27- hari di Mekkah dan 9-10 hari di Madinah dipotong waktu perjalanan. Calon haji yang berangkat pada kloter awal akan ke Madinah dulu baru ke Mekkah. Sedangkan kloter akhir Mekkah dulu baru Madinah.

Secara kenyamanan, kloter awal lebih nyaman. Kita datang waktu masih agak sepi, baik di Mekkah maupun Madinah. Masih bisa menikmati ibadah tanpa desak-desakan. Saya pergi dapat kloter akhir. Dari 50 kloter DKI Jakarta, saya dapat kloter 49. Akhir dari yang paling akhir.

Sejak dulu saya tau, hampir ngga ada hal yang bisa saya dapat dan jalankan dengan mudah di hidup saya. Haji inipun termasuk salah satunya.

Haji diletakan sebagai rukun Islam terakhir dengan syarat bagi yang mampu dengan alasan yang sangat kuat. Butuh seluruh kesiapan baik uang, waktu, fisik, mental, dan kepasrahan yang total.

Pergi haji dengan kloter akhir artinya kita akan sampai di Mekkah dalam keadaan yang sudah sangat padat karena hanya tinggal beberapa hari menjelang wukuf. 

Perjalanan saya dimulai dari Jumat pagi masuk asrama Haji, kemudian bersiap meninggalkan asrama sabtu dini hari, menuju bandara, proses imigrasi, dan berangkat pada sabtu pagi jam enam. Perjalanan Jakarta-Jeddah sekitar 9 jam. 

Dikarenakan tujuan utama adalah Mekkah bukan Madinah, maka niat umroh dan miqotnya sudah dilaksanakan di atas pesawat. Kita tidak boleh masuk Mekkah tanpa salah satu niat melakukan umroh  atau haji. Ada batasan jarak tertentu dimana kita harus sudah berihram dan diberlakukan larangan-larangan ihram. Untuk jamaah haji Indonesia yang datang dari Jakarta, miqot ada dua piliha  yaitu ketika pesawat melewati bukit Yalam-lam atau di bandara Jeddah, sedangkan yang dari Madinah adalah di Bir Ali.

Sangat disarankan bagi perempuan untuk naik Haji dengan laki-laki yang jadi mahram, bisa suami, ayah, atau adik laki-laki. Adik ipar bukan mahram ya. Di antara semua anggota KBIH, hanya saya yang dinterogasi petugas imigrasi cukup lama. 

Kenapa?

Umur saya sih ngga muda (muda banget), tapi dengan badan kecil dan muka yang keliatan kurang meyakinkan ini (ngga sesuai umur maksudnya), petugas imigrasinya jadi meragukan apa saya cukup umur. 

Semua anggota rombongan perempuan yang tanpa didampingi laki-laki mahramnya lewat-lewat aja. Cuma saya yang setengah dibentak-bentak ditanya: where’s your husband? Saya geleng. Father? Geleng juga. Alhamduliah saya masih diberi kemampuan berpikir cepet, ketika ditanya brother, saya langsung panggil ketua rombongan saya yang emang masih muda dan belum kawin.

Waktu itu Alhamdulillah juga belum dalam ihram. Karena kalo saya terpaksa bohong, sangat ngga nyaman. Saya bilang ke petugasnya, kalo saya pergi dengan orang ini. Saya ngga bilang itu kakak saya juga. Tapi, memang benar kan saya pergi dengan ketua rombongan saya. 

Lewat imigrasi, terbitlah antri kamar mandi yang cukup melelahkan. Tapi ngga ada pilihan karena sudah harus niat Ihram dan berihram. Di bandara jeddah hanya untuk transit untuk kemudian melanjutkan perjalanan ke Mekkah melalui jalur darat dengan bis selama kurang lebih 3-4 jam.

Ketika kita memilih naik ONH biasa, ekspektasi kita pun harus terukur. Perjalanan dari Jeddah ke Mekkah bukan seperti perjalanan karya wisata dengan bis besar yang harum dan dingin. Rejeki saya waktu itu adalah bis kecil seperti kopaja ato metro mini. Tanpa AC, kursi sempit, dan supir yang jago ngebut.

Selain merapal kalimat talbiyah, zikir yang paling saya sering ucapkan selama disana adalah Laa Haula wala quwwata illa billah. Tiada daya saya dan kekuatan saya tanpa pertolongan Allah.

Sampai di Mekkah, jangan dibayangkan bisa langsung masuk kamar dan rebahan setelah perjalanan yang sangat panjang dan melelahkan. Masih ada pembagian kamar dan pengurusan kunci dan hal-hal lain yang minimal baru bisa selesai dalam sejam. 

Satu hal yang paling disyukuri adalah mendapatkan teman sekamar yang baik dan sesuai dengan cara-cara hidup kita. Bayangkan akan tinggal bersama dalam satu kamar selama sebulan dengan orang yang ngga buat kita nyaman. 

Kisah nyata di rombongan saya, dua orang ibu-ibu paruh baya yang hampir tiap hari bermasalah sampai ketua rombongan pun harus turun tangan. Sesimpel masalah yang satu tidak bisa tidur dengan AC, yang lain harus dengan AC, lampu nyala dan mati, dsb. Salah satu dari mereka, alih-alih menghabiskan waktu ke mesjid untuk ibadah-ibadah, terpaksa menghabiskan waktu di kamar karena flu parah karena AC. Sedih bukan?

Urusan kamar beres sudah malam. Tapi, tugas belum tunai. Masih berada dalam keadaan ihram yang artinya masih harus menyelesaikan umroh. Diputuskan untuk menyelesaikan umroh malam itu juga supaya besok bisa istirahat.

Ritual umroh yang harus dilakukan adalah Thawaf, Sa’i dan Tahalul. Perjalanan dari maktab (tempat tinggal) ke Masjidil Haram cukup jauh. Karena waktu itu baru sampai dan belum bisa cari tau tentang apapun, kami serombongan jalan kaki dengan.menggunakan sisa energi yang ada. Jaraknya mungkin sekitar 3-4km ya. Cukup lumayan.

Sensasi melihat Ka’bah dengan mata kepala sendiri itu salah satu hal yang paling tidak bisa dijelaskan dengan kata-kata. Biarpun sudah tiga kali ke tempat itu, ngga mengurangi rasa yang ada di dada. Seperti semua lelah yang sudah dijalani dua hari ke belakang tanpa istirahat yang memadai, terbayar lunas ketika tau kita sudah sampai di tujuan kita. Di pusat terkuat hati semua manusia.  

Sepenuh apapun lantai paling bawah, saya tetap memilih Thawaf di sana dibandingkan naik ke lantai-lantai di atas. Selain jarak yang juga lebih jauh, saya mau lihat Ka’bah dengan jelas tiap Thawaf. 

Saya cukup tau diri dengan ukuran badan mini ini, akan sulit bersaing dengan jamaah-jamaah haji negara lain. Jadi saya ngga pernah memaksa untuk ke tengah. Karena semakin dekat Ka’bah, arusnya semakin padat dengan tingkat berdesakan yang tinggi. Saya bisa kehilangan nafas kalo nekat. Ketika Thawaf seiring dengan perputaran kita akan terbawa arus ke tengah. Saya akan membiarkan sampai saya rasa ngga mampu lagi dan mulai keluar. 

Sa’i secara tempat lebih nyaman karena garis lurus dan berAC. Tapi secara jarak, bolak balik Shafa Marwa cukup menguras tenaga. Saya pasti akan ambil jeda untuk duduk dan minum air zam-zam di putaran ke empat.

Saya, ibu saya dan beberapa anggota rombongan menyelesaikan umroh kami pada minggu dini hari dan sampai kembali ke maktab (tetap jalan kaki) jam 3.30 pagi. Waktu itu sudah tumpul rasanya otak. Tidur pun udah ngga bisa.

Karena sudah tinggal 2-3 hari menjelang wukuf dan keadaan Masjidil Haram sudah sangat padat, kami dianjurkan untuk tinggal di maktab sampai tiba waktu wukuf. Karena jelas wukuf dan beberapa hari ke depan adalah inti dari ibadah Haji. Bahkan, pemerintah Saudi mengirimkan SMS khusus untuk menghimbau agar jamaah haji memgurangi frekuensi mengunjungi Masjidil Haram karena kepadatanya dan menganjurkan untuk fokus ke wukuf dalam berapa hari.

Sisa dua hari sebelum wukuf saya mempersiapkan semua keperluan seperti minuman, makanan ringan, baju ganti, handuk, tiker lipet. Selain Wukuf di Arafah, akan ada Mabit di Muzdalifah, lalu dilanjutkan dengan bermalam di Mina selama tiga hari dan kembali ke Mekkah untuk Thawaf, Sai, dan Tahalul. Rangkaian ini dilakukan nonstop selama kurang lebih 4-5 hari. Jadi, ini seperti trip kecil dalam 40 hari tersebut, yang merupakan inti dari semua ibadah yang dilakukan selama 40 hari. Haji yang sebenarnya akan dimulai dalam beberapa hari.

Sepertinya terlalu panjang kalo dijadiin dalam satu tulisan. Saya akan lanjut di post berikutnya di sini

Posted in Favorite things, Travel

About French 

Every family, every house have some cultures other than their origin which influence the members, either in the way they live, think, or do things.

In my initial family, it was french. We were exposed by lots of french things since we were kids. My late mom was once a french teacher in previously CCF, now IFI. She also had been teaching in other places like the embassy, schools, or the oil company.

My mom and my dad was a high school friends and they met once again in my mom’s workplace when my dad was learning there for his scholarship. For this part, it is pretty similar with my own story with le husband. Then, my existence also started because of something french.

Some converasations in french were often carried out in the house so it can’t be helped for us to understand some vocabularies in the language. Among us three, I have been the one who is always eager to learn languange. After spent two months in Manchester, I started learning English by myself. Reading and dictionary checking became new exciting routine for this 4th grader.

Started my french lesson for the first time while I was grade six. The teacher of course was the in-house one. But, unfortunately, having your own mom being the teacher didn’t guarantee that you would be fluent in an instant. In fact, some lessons were often cancelled due her personal excuses like fatigue or something more important needed to be attended. It was surely quite dissapointing. But, it didn’t stop me from learning. I love reading and the books about french were everywhere in the house. The big and small dictionaries were also available. So, whenever I would like to learn  I just chose one simple reading.

I had a chance to learn french properly after I graduated from college.  Signed up for a class at CCF and thanks to my mother, I learnt there for free. I studied for 2,5 years and I really enjoyed it.

Having lots of knowledge and exposed by all things about this surely made me drool a lot to visit the country. Actually, when we went to England, France and Benelux (Belgia, Netherland, Luxembourg) visas were already stamped in our passport. Unfortunately, we got chicken pox. So, the only one who went to Paris was, no one other than the french teacher.

If I am not mistaken, throughout her life, my mother had been to France for four times. She went once before she was married and thrice after. She went in 1982, 1994, 1996, and 2011.

The one in 2011 was a bit special. CCF regularly sent their employée for a month training in one of cities in France. Usually, it’s not the big city one but more to small city like Grenoble, Nantes, or Lille. My mom was chosen to go in 2010 but they had condition she had to wear off her veil. She refused.

A year later, she was chosen once more. They said she really had to go this time and she could keep wearing her veil. It was quite funny as if it chased her persistently. I was dying to join her but it was not impossible. She was so lucky even there were lots of teacher there, twice in two years in a row, she was offered such chance.

I loved the french class a lot. Really enjoyed learning there eventough the class was 7-9 pm after work, but it felt like a stress reliever for me. Like piano, which I didn’t do it because I loved it, this one also  I missed the class rarely to never. What made it more enjoyable was because I was above the other students thanks to the teacher at home, hehe.

Other than the language, french cuisines were also something we enjoy at home. My mom, unlike her daughter, was a terribly great cook. One of the best french dishes she made was the quiche  lorraine. It was so much better than any cafes have. We also enjoyed lots of french products like the jam, cheese, bread, cakes. The last time she went there,  half of souvenirs she brought were all about food like I wrote here.

Learning its language, eating its food, reading a lot about it, even once went to its independence celebration in Jakarta have made the desire for visiting this country becomes a constant stomach ache for me. I desperately want to go there. In my 20’s, I regularly bought USD for me to go there. Few times I planned to go but it seemed out of my reach. Among my three biggest dream before marriage, only this one wasn’t fulfilled. I did the other two : master degree abroad and Hajj.

After marriage, this one keeps haunting me until today. I won’t be able to sleep comfortably for a long time if I don’t keep trying for this. I have told my husband once he finishes his study, I really want to go, alone or together.

I know I will be there one day, by all means possible. I will have my pictures taken in front of La Tour Eiffel, sitting by Le Seine watching sunset, eating ice cream at Jardin du Luxembourg, strolling around in Champ Elysses, admiring Le Palace du Versailles, Musée du Louvre,and  Le Cathedral de Notredame, enjoying le soir at une cafe in a little Paris street. I will speak french in its origin country. There will come the day when I will be living like a true Parisienne for few days.

Like I have always been believe, God knows but He waits for the right time. He has been fufilled all my dreams for these 30 years. There’s no way He won’t for this one as long as I keep going for it. My turn will come, someday. Amin.

Have a good Friday!

Posted in Favorite things, Review, Travel

Flights to and From Kuala Lumpur

I had this question quite often from close relatives who would like to go to Malaysia for the first time. Most of them think about Air Asia when it comes to cheap price, which is something I don’t (really) agree.

During 1,5 years of master study there, I went back and forth from both Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur 10 times. The very first thing I did once I had the fix schedule of all lectures was searching for the cheapest flight back home. All tabs in my laptop were about all airlines websites. Did I buy it straightly?

Of course, NOT! 

I brought those fare comparison to my dream first. Even for days. I rechecked them every day for few times because the fares changed depends the time you checked it. For a stingy student like me, it was sensitive. Being hesitate whether to buy now or later. Imagining it wherever I went. Then, cursed myself when I saw the second time the price was higher. Such a true masochist.

After so many times doing like that,  I really found that some airlines were truly cheaper than Air Asia. In fact, Air Asia became my very last choice among other airlines. The ticket price only was maybe cheap, but, once you continued your booking, other cost kept piling up and at the end of your booking, voila! That will be very far from cheap.

So, here’s my preference from the most to the least :

1. Lion Air

SURPRISE!! When domestically Lion Air is known to be the master of delay, I didn’t find it for several times I fIew with them. I found Lion Air had a flight to Kuala Lumpur ( or Jakarta) accidentally. It had been a hard battle inside my mind when two airlines which I regularly used gave me an expensive total fares for my pocket. Even after several days, it didn’t change much. 
I just read a tweet several days ago saying ‘Price is the only tool that is able to make people realize they have another choice or they have to find one’. It is very true. Those airlines fares which I think too expensive made me search for other options. Then, instead of one, I found two other options. Lion air is one of them.

The best thing about Lion Air, it shows you directly the total price and with that price comes 20 kg of baggage allowance. No need to pay additional cost. It was very agreeable for me. Even more, they were truly good value for your money. I often got as cheap as IDR 350.000 one way from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur. It costs the same like you fly to some cities in Java.

The second best thing about Lion Air is they depart from KLIA, not LCCT. It has the price of Low Cost airline, but they depart from high cost airline airport. 

Recently, as far as I know, LCCT does no longer exist. They replaced it with KLIA 2.

Third and the last, few times flying with them, I never once experienced any delays. It was very punctual and more, the aircraft was big and clean. Guess it was new.

So, for all those three reasons, Lion Air is on my top of list.

2. Malaysian Airlines

This one is one of the regular that I often use. Before knowing how much cheap the fare between two cities, I used to think MAS was very cheap. When we first went there with my mum and sister, I found IDR 750.000 was a very good deal. Only after that I found out, it became the most expensive fare I paid among all my trips.

But, surprisingly, if you are persistent enough to regulary check their website, you can find a very shocking price like I once had. I once got the ticket price from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur at IDR 75.000. YEP, three zeros only. Not even reach 10 USD. As for the total fares, it became IDR 239.000. See, it was a very very good deal. 

Of course, MAS departs from KLIA and it has a lot of check in counters.  The aircraft might not as big as Lion as far as I remembered, the leg room was quite narrow too. One thing is an advantage from MAS, they have lots of schedules in a day. My mum once was late for check in  for 7 am departure and she couldn’t fly with her originally booked flight. Then, the check in staff simply changed it to the next flight schedule at 9 am. No additional charge, no grumpy face scolding us for being late. A very good service. Overall, it’s good.

3. Air Asia

Here’s the cheap airline which often turns out to be not cheap at all. Even start from the ticket price only, it wasn’t that cheap. You have to pay more for baggage according how many kilos that suitable for your belongings. After that, you pay for your seat, which is something that I think it’s a bit ridiculous. Do they expect us to stand up during the flight?

The aircraft is far from spacious, the seat is not really comfortable, and they depart from LCCT. Unlike KLIA, LCCT was an airport who looks like a bus terminal. Not my preference. Well, overall, it was just fair. 

4. Tiger Airways

I found this when I found Lion Air. It was pretty similar with Air Asia. You pay for your baggage and seat. The price was slightly cheaper. I only tried this once or twice maybe. I didn’t feel too comfortable with this although there was no problem at all during the flight. It also departed from LCCT.

Actually, there were other two airlines at that time, Garuda Indonesia and KLM. But, both were out of my league. Hence, I left them.

So, if anyone ever ask me which one to choose, you surely know the answer.

Posted in Langit Senja, Travel

Going Solo

This time, let’s some pictures tell the story.

Airport Fashion

Morning stroll. The car behind was Mr. President’s guards car since he lived just around where we stayed.

Too tired to walk, call daddy to rescue me.

Paddy field and sunshine

Ready to go home

We only stayed for one day and we almost didn’t go anywhere other than eating places. Haha. Maybe next time. Amin.

Posted in Langit Senja, Maternité, Travel

Baby’s First Flight(s)

It took about 30 years for me to finally having a chance to do mudik while it only took 1,5 years for Langit to experience it.

This year, after four years of marriage, we went to Solo, where le husband’s family were living. He still has his grandmother there. We went on the second day of Idul Fitri and… went back the day after. Haha! No return ticket were available until Tuesday so we just chose to go back on Friday’s last flight.

Overall, the first experience flying with the baby was beyond my expectation. All processes went smoothly, no delay at all and one thing that I was really grateful, although it’s a row with three seaters, depart and return we got all seats in a row only for ourselves. Both passengers next to us, depart and return didn’t go on board.

We flew with Citilink because they depart from Halim which is only 15 minutes from home. So, no need to leave home too early and the possibility of meeting traffic jam is pretty low. Since the depart flight left at 6 pm, I couldn’t imagine how I should wake up earlier than 2 am to prepare everything, especially for the  baby.

I have never been brave enough to go somewhere without the baby has her stomach full. This one too. I prefered feeding her earlier than leaving with the thought she could eat later somewhere or on the plane. Feeding is my ultimate concern for the baby (and me, of course. I refused to face a feeding battle outside home or a house).

She fell asleep on the waiting room before boarding and woke up when we were about to take off. I started to offer her breastmilk, biscuts, or anything that prevented her from having her ears umcomfortable. But, maybe we, mothers, sometime worry too much. On the contrary, Langit seemed enjoying the flight. She was busy reading in-flight magazine during take off and landing. In between she sit in the middle, either reading, drinking , and eating banana. So, the depart flight was pretty successful.

For return flight, we took the last flight at 17.45 pm. It was as well on time. Usually, Langit starts feel sleepy after maghrib and she did too when we were on the plane. By the time we took off she fell asleep while being breastfed. She continued sleeping almost throughout the journey. Woke up for a moments twice or thrice and cried out loud with her eyes closed. The return flight was done quite good although it wasn’t as peaceful as the first.

I learned from yesterday’s experience some things important to be done or brought when travel with a baby or toddler. First, Baby carrier is a great help. During check in, getting through baggage checking when you have to put all your belongings on the belt, it was absolutely make it easier having the baby being in the carrier. For an active toddler like Langit who can’t help herself to touch everything around her within her reach, it was quite tiring chasing here and there. So, Baby carrier will be your right hand. According to the officer, only Garuda that allows stroller to be brought inside cabin. But, I saw several passengers during depart flight brought their kids on stroller. So maybe other than Garuda, there are others aircraft that allows stroller. But then, stroller is quite uneasy to be brought here and there. It’s bulky and heavy compared to baby carrier. You can’t just shove stroller to your bag. While carrier, just fold it and done.

Snack and drink. Like the depart flight, Langit prefered drink her water than breastmilk and I realized that it was okay. So there’s no need to push your breast to your babies. They want to enjoy the flight so they told you to enjoy it too.

Full stomach. Even for only five spoons, it is still very much better than feeding the babies with just anything we think we could find later. Hunger is the key to a cranky baby. Langit was not really fit that day. She had fever even until return. But, luckily, she never refused food. She ate breakfast as early as 3.20 am for depart flight and ate dinner as early as 3.40 pm. 

The first hardest steps were taken. Let’s be ready for wider, further, and longer steps, shall we?

Posted in Review, Travel

(Kantor) Imigrasi Ramah Bayi

Tempat review kali ini mungkin kurang umum. Bukan tempat makan, sekolah, tempat bermain, atau rumah sakit. Saya ingin sekali memberi kredit untuk tempat yang pelayanannya layak ditulis dalam satu tulisan sendiri yang siapa tau bisa bermanfaat untuk yang lain.

Namanya Imigrasi. Nama lengkapnya Imigrasi Jakarta Timur. Dari namanya sudah jelas apa tujuan saya datang kesini. Dua kali kamis ini saya menghabiskan hampir seharian di tempat ini. Kamis lalu untuk urus paspor saya, Kamis ini untuk Langit. Pak Dokter minggu lalu di hari Jumat.

Kenapa beda-beda? Karena saya punya pertimbangan sendiri. Saya sengaja bikin janji duluan supaya tau medan. Berurusan dengan Imigrasi terakhir tahun 2008, terus terang bikin takut. Waktu itu masih sama ibu. Sekarang sendiri. Jadi, saya pikir akan lebih baik kalo saya liat dulu. Pak Dokter ngga bisa juga ijin sembarangan, kalo ada dokumen yang kurang atau salah, agak sulit untuk bolak balik.

Saya sudah daftar online dulu sebelumnya, untuk kami berdua. Setelah daftar lalu bayar ke BNI. Oya, banyak yang ga tau kalo pembayaran imigrasi ini BISA LEWAT ATM. Jadi, ngga perlu antri. Cuma harus pastikan struknya keluar ya. Tinggal pilih menu pembayaran, pilih imigrasi, masukan kode bank yang didapat dari registrasi online nanti nama kita akan keluar. Beres.

Nanti setelah bayar, balik ke pendaftaran online tersebut, masukan kode pembayaran, lalu pilih tanggal kedatangan. Setelah itu kita akan dikirimi email yang harus diprint sebagai bukti pada saat tanggal kedatangan.

Sebelum datang ke imigrasi, pastikan semua dokumen yang diperlukan sudah difotokopi A4 TANPA DIPOTONG dan bawa semua dokumen asli. Cuma perlu tiga, KTP, Kartu Keluarga, dan Akte Kelahiran. Akte bisa diganti dengan Ijazah. Oya, jangan lupa bukti pembayaran bank. Fotokopi ukuran A4 juga ya.

Untuk anak dibawah umur seperti Langit, yang harus disiapkan agak lebih banyak. Kartu Keluarga, KTP ayah ibu, surat nikah, dan akte kelahiran, dan bukti pembayaran. Semua beserta fotokopinya. Langit pun saya daftarkan online. Supaya saya ngga ribet nulis-nulis disana.

Di tanggal kedatangan yang kita pilih, datang antara jam 8-10 untuk nomer antrian. Di Imigrasi Jaktim begitu masuk, jalan menuju belakang gedung, disana ada pembagian formulir. Antrian terbagi tiga : manual, online, prioritas. Kamis lalu saya masuk antrian online, kamis ini saya masuk antrian prioritas. Prioritas diperuntukkan bagi yang mengurus paspor anak-anak dan lansia.

Kamis lalu, saya bolak-balik tiga kali. Iya, tiga kali dalam satu hari. Saya datang pagi sampai sana jam 8.20. Antri untuk foto, lalu pengecekan berkas, lalu wawancara dan sidik jari. Antrian paling lama ada di yang ketiga. Nomor antrian saya terpotong waktu istirahat. Jadi, saya pulang dulu untuk kasih makan Langit dan kembali ke imigrasi bawa bayi. Paginya saya nyetir sendiri, siang saya naik taksi.

Antrian ketiga memang paling lama karena ada dua, pengecekan berkas dan wawancara serta sidik jari. Jadi, ada dua lapis, yang kursi depan berkas-berkas kita akan dicek. Beneran dicek, bukan asal lewat. Lalu duduk lagi nanti dipanggil untuk wawancara dan sidik jari. Oya, juga foto untuk paspor kita.

Kalau datang pagi sekitar jam 7, kemungkinan selesai setengah hari sangat besar. Pak Dokter di hari jumat jam 6 sudah disana. Jam 10 sudah selesai semua. Khusus hari Selasa dan Jumat, Imigrasi Jakarta Timur punya Early Morning Service yang dimulai dari jam 6 pagi.

Dibandingkan tahun 2008 saya ke imigrasi, pelayanan dan fasilitas imigrasi benar-benar berubah 180 derajat. Bahkan pendaftaran online antara tahun 2013 dan tahun 2016 sudah jauh lebih mudah. Ngga perlu scan dokumen apapun.

Kantornya pun jauh lebih besar, bersih, bagus, dan dingin. Ruang tunggu wawancara dan sidik jari adalah yang paling besar. Kursi yang tersedia banyak, dan yang paling menguntungkan buat saya ada playground anak-anak. Bukan playground asal, tapi cukup luas. Ada ayunan, perosotan kecil dan besar, lebarnya dua kali yang ada di Sam Marie Basra. Kamis lalu, Langit puas sekali main sendirian karena siang relatif lebih sepi.

Bukan cuma playground, tapi di ruangan yang sama juga terdapat Ruang menyusui. Saya ngga sempat masuk karena kalau takut ngga terdengar kali dipanggil sementara saya cuma datang sendiri. Kalo seandainya ada yang nemenin, saya pasti lebih milih menyusui di ruang tertutup dibandingkan dengan pakai penutup di ruang terbuka.

Satu hal lagi yang sangat saya apresiasi adalah kecepatan dan keramahan petugasnya kepada anak-anak. Terutama yang masih agak bayi kaya Langit. Mereka menyapa, sambil ajak ngobrol dan jelas sangat mempermudah. Minggu lalu saya datang tiga kali karena ada kesalahan pada formulir pendaftaran saya. Saya harusnya daftar perpanjang, bukan bikin baru. Waktu itu rasanya pengen nangis waktu dibilang harus ulang dari awal. Kebayang sia-sianya waktu yang udah dihabiskan setengah hari antri sana sini.

Entah kesian ato gimana ngeliat saya yang sambil gendong Langit, pucet, capek, mbak yang di bagian pemeriksaan berkas bilang kalau dia akan bantu asal saya bisa kembali sebelum jam 3 dengan bawa paspor lama saya. Waktu itu jam 13.50 dan saya langsung iyakan. Saya cegat bajaj, pulang ke rumah, saya suruh tunggu dan minta dianter balik. Jam 14.30 saya sudah sampai lagi di imigrasi.

Ternyata paspor lama pun harus difotokopi, dan saya belum punya. Sekali lagi, dibantu kembali. Setelah itu saya masuk bilik wawancara, harus sendiri. Petugas yang tadi pun menawarkan untuk jaga Langit. Tapi, Langitnya lebih milih duduk sendiri di kursi sambil main kartu kartu saya.

Alhamdulillah hari ini, saya selesai mengurus paspor Langit sekaligus mengambil paspor saya dan Pak Dokter. Antrian di loket pengambilan lebih sedikit dan tetap teratur. Saya antri jam 10.40, jam 11.30 paspor sudah di tangan.

Saya sangat berterima kasih sekali dengan pelayanan yang begitu baik, rapi, dan memudahkan.

Oya, ngga ada foto sama sekali karena tangan dan pikiran saya udah abis buat fokus ke bayi dan jaga dokumen supaya ngga tercecer.

Semoga bisa membantu ya.

Posted in Life happens, Thoughts, Travel

The Road to An Unachieved Dream

Today, Wednesday 15 June 2016, as early as 4.45 am, I was securing the very first real step to my most longing dream for years.

Among three, this is the only one I wasn’t able to achieve before marriage. I have been doing lots of things to be here, not only once thinking about to let it go, but in the end, I know I will never be able to really let it go. It won’t leave me. It will keep haunting until it is unlocked.

The past four days have been like a war inside my heart and mind. The battle between to do or not to do has been very intense. Doing a very massive researches using every single possible keywords to assure this time, it’s really the time.

Calculating between the loss and the gain then finally, sincerely asking The One and Only for Him to take care this one longest dream until the end. Ask Him for all blessing to make it happen.

I wish my mum were here, so she can really witness that I am working on this one dream. No one knows better than her how much I want this. I am really going this time, Mum.

I will, Insya Allah.

Posted in Places, Travel

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:)

Posted in Favorite things, Travel

Morning reminiscing : On travelling

I am constantly missing something these days. Traveling. Never been anywhere,literally, for almost 2 years. I miss airports, packed-luggages, stamped-passport and everything about it.

Recently, little brother-in law has just departed to Manchester, pursuing his master degree in UoM. Went with his pregnant wife to the very same city I had been exactly 20 years ago where my father pursued his master degree.

Since it is impossible to go anywhere right now and maybe still (quite) impossible in the next few years, maybe reminiscing some of my traveling experiences done with my family in past years will do :

1. June 1994, Manchester,UK

Have written about this completely in the previous post. My very first flying experience abroad by Emirates. It was beyond awesome.
Visited several other cities too such London,Sheffield, Harrogate, Buxton, Bath, Blackburn, and Stockport.
It brought more than a mere experience of living abroad or vacation for me. It had greater impact which benefits me in so many things in my life in upcoming years.
It was 20 years ago, yet, those days still vividly pictured in my mind like it was just a week ago.

2. October 2003, Saudi Arabia

It took 9 years until our second big trip together. It was right after my birthday that we were leaving for Mecca and Medina to do our first Umra.
Since we flew with Gulf Air, we stopped by and stayed for a night in Manama,Bahrain also. Two nights actually, depart and return. It was quite a bonus.
Couldn’t helped crying while seeing Ka’bah for the first time. Live. I felt so small. Not forget to mention, it was not an ordinary Umra. It was a-Ramadhan-Umra. Having experienced Ramadhan Umra was something special. It was double bonuses.

We enjoyed break-fasting together in the mosque. Came only with a glass of tea and few dates but returned to hotel with youghurt,bread,and any other food given from others. Tarawih prayer was done in 23 raka’at and I was not able to keep up with that. Exhausting:-(

Strangely, we had more energy to walk around the shopping malls after tarawih for hours:-))
All the market and shopping malls were closed during the day in Ramadhan. Instead, they started opening after Asar till sahur.

I decided to wear jilbab after returned. Another thing that proved traveling brought more than merely going to some places. It went far beyond that.

3. May 2008, Batam-Singapore

After returned Umra, I started having a long-term traveling plans. I started saving for Hajj and visiting other countries. Not long after I returned from Umra, I got my first permanent job as a piano teacher. So, it helped a lot. I saved religiously and buying US Dollars once the balance reach 10 millions rupiahs. Yes, thinking about that right now, it was quite unbelievable that I had almost USD 6000 few years ago:))

Singapore was the first country I went with others without any of my family members. I went with my dad collegues, staying in a budget hotel, wandering on the Orchard Road by myself, visiting Borders ( a-most-fascinating book store i had ever seen), Takashimaya, Isetan, the famous Merlion statue, and stopped by Sentosa Island using cable car.

I remember a quote from Ibnu Batuta, if I am not mistaken, saying, “Traveling, it makes you speechless then turn you into a story teller”. Something like that.

It is definitely true. When I came home, I couldn’t stop telling everyone at home about my first ‘solo’ trip until they had it more than enough:))

4. November 2008, KL,Malaysia

Just 6 months after my Singapore trip, I had another chance of going on ‘solo’ trip. It was the most impulsive trip that I have ever had. It came suddenly out of nothing.

Started when me and my family plan to visit my grandma after a wedding reception. It was just an usual visit on Sunday. Then, one of my aunt was there too at grandma’s house. I didn’t know how it began, suddenly there was a convo that my aunt would leave for KL on Tuesday for a confrence. Nothing special with that.

What stunned me at that time was she suddenly asked me to join her. Told me that I just needed to buy the tickets and I could stay in a-5-stars hotel where the confrence took place with her. She said that I just needed to prepare for the tickets and some pocket money for 4 days.

My heart was racing hearing all those offers. But, the problem was I had my job and it was too sudden. How could I obtain a permission from my principal in one day notice? It was Sunday and she planned to leave on Tuesday.

It even seemed more impossible at that time where my partner was currently in Australia for student exchange, so I was alone in-charge for the class. If I left too, then no teacher in charge for the class for several days. And, I just started working there only about 4 months. So many impossibilities laid over head.

I spent the rest of Sunday thinking over and over about that. It was a very rare chance, but yet, how I could conquer all those impossibilities. What reason to be explained to gain the permission. It was really an experience;))

I went to school on Monday with a very heavy heart. Mentally prepared to talk with my principal. She was ok actually and I was pretty close too, but she could be very strict. I had prepare my reason and truthfully, I had said yes to my aunt on Sunday night. Should remember that I could be that insane in the past years:))

I talked to my principal slowly, telling her that I had to go for immediate and urgent family matters for three days and apologized for this sudden notice since the bussiness also came suddenly and could not be delayed at all. It was very important for me to go.

At first, she was very surprised. Leaving the class for three days, when my partner was not there too, maybe she thought I didn’t have my consciousness. But since I have started everything so I had to go all the way. Then she started to slowly accepted it by asking me if i could shorten it for two days or even one day. I told her that it was quite impossible since the ticket had been issued and etc.

I think it was very true that everything that should be yours will really go to you no matter how,when, and where. This trip taught me that. I left my principal office with her permission and simple order that I had to prepare everything while I was absent. I entered the room as if carried a big rock in my heart and left with my as-light-as feather heart:D

I flew with Malaysian Airlines this time. When I remembered again, I think it was not an economy class since the price was quite expensive and it was very spacious. So different with one I went few next years when I went there to study.

Arrived at KLIA at 11 pm and had a taxi to the hotel. My aunt had her, i dont know how it called, but a malaysian young man that once stayed at her house for a months before, so this man had escorted me and my aunt during our staying, not always, but most of the time.

Thanks to him, I went to many interesting places. He took me to Istana Negara, eating a delicuous rojak nearby, bought me a ticket to go up the famous Petronas Twin Towers, yes I went up there to the 42nd floor, tried sate Kajang, went to Putrajaya at night, and many other places. It was the very first time too I rode on two-doors BMW, with a guy that I just known in few days,alone:))

I also had my literally solo trip there. I went to Melaka with a tour group by bus. I went alone while my aunt had her confrence. It was a one-day trip. Oh, I was also recently broke up with le husband that time. Our worst one. So, during the trip, I had a very good time to think about everything happened. It was a great escape.

What funny was, 4 years later, around the same month, I went to Melaka for the second time with that one I broke-up with,while he was visiting me when I studied my master degree. Sometimes, life is truly beyond belief:).

Melaka was like a historical city. I went to the famous chirstchurch, and eformosa ( not sure about the spelling), the deserted castle-like from Portuguese colonial.

I also had unexpected lunch date with a Turkish man from the tour since only both of us were moslem while the tour leader chose a non halal chinese restaurant for lunch. So, we had our lunch in Secret Recipe together and had small talks which made us almost missed and being left by the bus back to KL:))

I had to go home earlier than scheduled when my mum called from Jakarta that I had passed the test on Bappenas and had to have the next test on Saturday morning. So, I had to change my flight to Friday evening so I could attend the test the following day.

Since I arrived at KL so late at night, I had not have a chance to look around the airport. But, blessing in disguise, thanks to the flight change, I could wander around KLIA by my self before take-off. I bought small gift from Harrods, went to other terminal by the train inside the airport, it was really exciting.

I really hope I can be as good as my parents to my kids later for them not to miss such experiences and opportunities in their life later. I really hope I could give them better than I had.

5. June 2010, Istanbul,Turkey and Second Umra

I had a chance to visit the Holy cities for the second time on 2010 and this time it was plus Istanbul. It was so exciting. We flew with Turkish Airlines.

Stayed for 3 days at Istanbul, visiting Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and cruising Bosphorus strait. It was crossing the border between Asia and Europe.

We proceeded to Medina from Istanbul and stayed for 3 days then continued the journey to Holy Mecca to perform Umra.

I didn’t have so many memorable moments on this trip. It was fun but it felt a bit different. Dunno what.

It might be only 5 trips, but the benefits stay for tens years ahead..