Travel Name List

Name List 1. Lim Jhin Horng 2. Lim Jhin Siang 3. Lim Yoke Wee 4. Lim Tian Siew 5. Say Yong Ho 6. Lim Kian Lye 7. Kuah Sum Neo 8. Cynthia Lim Gui Yi 9. Cheryl Lim Yan Ming 10. Eugene Lim Zheng Hui

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Travelling Details
Date: 13 Dec 2011 (Tues) - 17 Dec 2011 (Sat)

Location: Bandung, Indonesia Accommodation Venue: Grand Serela Hotel, Bandung

Driver / Tour Guide: 1. Pak Tirin 2. Pak Iskandar

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Education in Indonesia

Children in Indonesia will undergo a 10-year compulsory education starting at the age of 5.

They need to enter Taman Kanak-kanak (TAKA) for 2 years and proceed to Sekolah Dasar for 6 years. Then, they will continue their compulsory education to Sekolah Menengah Pertama (SMP) at the age of 13 and ends at the age of 15. In Indonesia, they have Sekolah Olahraga which are suitable for athletic children, but it can only be a major if the child are located at Jakarta Province. This is because the other provinces in Indonesia only take Sekolah Olahraga as a subsidiary education institution for their young citizens, whereby students in Sekolah Olahraga still need to study in SMP in the early morning. When they are at the age of 16, students can opt to study in either SMA, which focuses on Social Science Study and Nature Science Study, or SMK, which focuses on Technical Study. If children who wish to work as someone professional instead of a technician, they will then opt to further their 3-year study to SMA instead of SMK.

Information given: Pak Iskandar - Bandung Tour Guide

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Administration in Bandung
Bandung has 30 subs districts, known as kecamatan and 139 villages, known as kelurahan. A mayor, or walikota, who is chosen by direct votes of city residents, leads the city administration with the help of city council members, known as Regional People's Representative Council (DRPD). Bandung is currently divided into 30 subs district, which are: Andir Arcamanik Astanaanyar Babakanciparay Bandung Kidul Bandung Kulon Bandung Wetan Batununggal Bojongloa Kaler Bojongloa Kidul Cibeunying Kaler Cibeunying Kidul Cibiru Cicadas Cicendo Cidadap Cinambo Coblong Gedebage Kiaracondong Lengkong Mandalajati Margacinta Rancasari Regol Sukajadi Sukasari Sumurbandung Ujungberung

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandung#Administration> Throughout oral interview with the tour guide Throughout observations on the road

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Grafting in Bandung
I was once feel that Malaysia is a corrupted country, but after I went to Bandung, I changed my perception. I will support my views with observations and researches that I've made. In the early morning, my family and I departed to Pasar Baru with our tour guide. When we were chatting to each other happily, here comes the police officer, who was trying to earn some money for his morning tea / minum pagi, stopped our van and commanded the tour guide to get out off the van. We at first thought that we who were on board had violate their traffic rules and regulations, but we were wrong. Whenever we looked out to listen to their conversation, we realize that something new will pop out once you're able to speak him through. Finally due to the impatience and afraid that our schedule would be influenced, the tour guide paid him an amount of 50000 Rupiah. We thought that it was a small money, but when we asked our tour guide on his pay per day, it was 50000 Rupiah too. It means that every grafting given is actually sucking people hard-earn money. Then, I googled this up and found out that Indonesia had ranked 100 in the corruption index, but we Malaysia only ranked 88. It means that we've less corruption going on and this complements should go to our Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). No wonder public servants had no guts in accepting or asking for graft in public unlike Indonesian police who ask for corruption right in front of the busy street. This had really spoilt our day and luckily it is our last day in Bandung. Although I am looking forward to visit Bandung again, but when I put this under consideration, I feel scare to visit there again. I really hope that Indonesia government able to take this as a matter to be looked into quickly. Otherwise, I believe that tourists, who had once experienced such experience, will freak out!

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Traffic Condition
Although Bandung seem to be an underdeveloped province in Indonesia, but out of surprise that they have much better road system.

They have well-planned highways with lane division, but their streets are busy. So, unemployed citizens are absorbed to assist Traffic Polis (Polisi) and District Police (POLDA) in maintaining the smooth flow of traffic. In the morning, the traffic condition is fine, but when it comes to the peak hours, it becomes much congested than before.

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Accommodation in Bandung
In Bandung, we spent our 4-night stay in Grand Serela Hotel. They did provide us with fantastic service and make us feel in home. Although 3 of us slept in a room with an extra bed, but it is still spacious for us to spend our night comfortably. We can even spend our time utilizing the gym's facilities in the room as we are allowed to borrow it into our room. The following are the picture that I have snapped.

Hotel's Christmas Decoration

Spacious room to accommodate us

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After hours spending our day out of the hotel, my brother started playing his game at night.

The lion is staring at you!!

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My nephew acting as Mr. Muscle (cute version).. Haha..

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Everything About Our Trip

We spent our 5 days 4 nights at Bandung, Indonesia.

Our itinerary is as follow:Day 1 - Factory Outlet - Kampung Padasuka: Angklung Performance - Paris van Java

Day 2 - Tangkuban Perahu - CIATER Hot Spring - Factory Outlet Day 3 - Trans Studio - Pasar Baru - Factory Outlet Day 4 - Kawah Putih - Situ Patenggang - Factory Outlet Day 5 - Pasar Baru - Husein Sastranegara Airport

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Our First Day

Our first day was a tiring day because we had a sleepless night before we departed from Kuala Lumpur. So, almost all of us "recharge" ourselves on the plane, especially me. I almost spent time sleeping on the plane, except when the air stewardess served the food to me. We arrived Husein Sastranegara Airport around 0912 in the morning. The children especially were anxious because I had slightly briefed them on the Trans Studio.

The "mini" airport in Bandung

When we were about to go through their immigration check and customs check, we then realize how small the airport is. It is congested, whereby people queuing up are pushing among each other. Oh gosh, it is crowded! After several minutes of waiting, we had passed through all the checks and managed to leave the small airport. Then, we met our tour guide - Pak Tirin. Pak Tirin fetched us to the hotel trying to check-in, but failed because the rooms weren't ready. So we left the hotel after some simple check-in procedure without receiving our room key to the nearest factory outlet.

There we met a group of salesman trying hard to promote their items. They rather chased you and persuaded you to buy their items instead of sitting back waiting for customers. Although it was a scary scene, but it indirectly reflects on how poor the country is and how determined the citizens are in determining their younger generations' future. At the same place while others were shopping, I found their local delicacies - Siowmay Bandung.

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Although it seems to be the same as our local Siowmay, but it tastes different because it is mixed up with gravy which tastes like satay sauce.

Photo at the Siowmay stall.

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Siowmay Bandung before adding the gravy. The stall is located near to the hotel and had lots of "gigantic" fishes in the pool. I hereby upload together the photos that I've snapped.

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After being chased by all the salesmen, we were tired. So we decided to return to the hotel and had a short nap before continuing our journey of the day to the Angklung Performance.
I had a great experience in the soul-touching Angklung Performance. Although Angklung Performance seems to be bored, but if we focused on it, it turns to be a meaningful performance.

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After we went to Kampung Padasuka for the Angklung Performance, we then continue our journey of the day to Paris van Java. At there we had dinner in the stall filled with "ancient" decorative object. After the dinner, we continue shopping at their local Carefour outlet and let me saw a stall which sells their local food - Tauhu Berintik. I who is a food-lover, of course won't let go such opportunity.

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Perhaps I had put aside the Tahu Brintik for a long hour as I only ate it at night, so it didn't turn out to be a delicious delicacies. We arrived early, had a nap and again continue shopping. My brother had exhausted, so when he reached the hotel, he started relaxing by playing his favourite game - DDTank (Chinese Version), which is designed by MMOG with my "antique" soft toy.

My exhausted cousin sleeping after a hectic day.

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My exhausted cousin sleeping after a hectic day.

My brother playing his game with my lion observing him.

The lion is about to roar!!

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The Second Day of Our Trip

We visited Tangkuban Perahu, which had last erupted at the year of 1969 and still consider as an active volcano. At there, there are beautiful sceneries no matter from which angle you snapped your photo but unfortunately I left my camera's memory card at the hotel, so I can't snapped much photos on that day. Although it was covered with mist in the early morning, but the misty scenery did make it's scenes to be much prettier.

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After visiting Tangkuban Perahu for several hours, we then continue our journey by bus to have our lunch. At there I felt like returning to my childhood playing see-saw with my brother and cousin. It was a happy moment but my cousin and I hurt our gluteus maximus but it then recovered after we soaked ourselves in a 42 degree Celsius hot spring.
Well, one stone kills two birds. When I was soaking in the hot spring, my skin had become smoother and the most important thing is that my butt had recovered. ^.^ Then, we tended to visit Rumah Moda for shopping but due to the traffic congestion we stopped at the factory outlet nearby to it. I, especially shopped like a shopping maniac there until I have forgotten the ticking time. It started to rain heavily when we were about to leave, so we had no choice but to eat at the stall near to that mentioned factory outlet. I possess a great memory in Bobber Caf because it's Nasi Rica-Rica made me burst into tears due to it's spiciness.

After dinner we returned to the hotel. I who are in-charge of the 2 children stayed at the hotel with them while the others went out for shopping. As they didn't find out the business hours (0900 - 2100) of the factory outlet nearby, so they ended up visiting nothing at night.

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The Happy Moment for the Children

As mentioned before, for this trip, I am the tour guide and also the babysitter. So in the third-day, I need to accompany 2 children to Trans Studio, which is one of the biggest theme park in Indonesia, while the others shop at Pasar Baru. At first I thought that I am unable to enjoy myself there, but then I found out that I am wrong. Although I am babysitting, but I still manage to enjoy myself with the games and photo snapping session. I hereby shared with all of you my remarkable experiences by both comments and photos snapped. Marvel Superheroes 4D

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Comment: Nice and exciting.

Vertigo

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Comment: Adventurous and horrifying.

Photo With the Clowns

I really pity my brother and my cousin for being "burger meat" amongst the clown.

Bolang Adventure

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Comment: Meaningful and informative on Indonesian culture, but it is slightly boring.

Science Center

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Science Center

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Young scientists testing on the effect of difference amplitude of sound wave.

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Comment: Remarkable for science-maniac and it is an interesting spot for science-lover.

Yamaha Racing Coaster

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Comment: Terrifying and adventurous. (Both are closing tight their eye lids)

Jelajah

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Jelajah

Comment: Interesting, exciting and a little angry. (someone got angry because he hurts it's shoulders)

Sky Pirates

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Sky Pirates

Comment: Bored but exciting. (able to look into all the spots in Trans Studio)

Photos Session with the Mermaid Family

Eugene Lim is about to be killed by the King Mermaid. ^.^

Dragon Rider

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Dragon Rider

Comment: Exciting and Great. (first experience of slippers detached from the legs)

Photo of Merlin vs Evil Witch

Photos of Merlin Waking up The Sleeping Giant

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Photos of Merlin Waking up The Sleeping Giant

Although I am huge, but the giant is even bigger.

Photo with Skeleton Man and Evil Witch

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Photo with Skeleton Man and Evil Witch

Photo with Merlin

Merlin is touching my "gigantic" tummy to transfer it's magic to me in order to activate the magic stick.

My Brother Posing to be Snapped

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Dunia Lain - Haunted House

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Dunia Lain - Haunted House

Effect due to the "Thermo Camera".

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Ghostbuster is about to kill the ghost.

The tombs outside Dunia Lain.

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About to begin our journey to the Dunia Lain. Comment: The sound effect did freak us out, but it is actually a boring place with some dull ghost images.

Photo with the 2 giants

Your head might be big but my stomach is even bigger. Again 2 little kids are turning into "burger meat" again.

Transcar Racing

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Transcar Racing

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Both are posing strangely with strange look when waiting for our turn.

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Comment: Fun and exciting, especially when my cousin failed to chase me up and knock on my car.

Dunia Anak

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Comment: It's just ok, but irrelevant because visitors are usually above the age of 12 years old.

Photo with the Clown

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After the exhausting, but remarkable journey, we left the studio and returned to the hotel. When we are in the journey returning to the hotel, I came across Indonesia's Bandung Province army monument.

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Journey to the Mountain

As my cousin, my brother and I had fallen a sick after playing crazily in Trans Studio and neglecting the importance of water, so we departed to Kawah Putih in the late morning. As a result, the ladies manage to snap a photo among them.

When we are in the journey to Kawah Putih, we passed by a town filled with traditional carriage. We had tend to sit on a traditional carriage since the second day but due to it's high price, so we decided not to sit on it. But due to the kindness of our replacement tour guide - Pak Iskandar, we managed to get it cheap.

After sitting on the carriage, we continue our journey to Kawah Putih. The condition uphill is
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After sitting on the carriage, we continue our journey to Kawah Putih. The condition uphill is freezing cold. Although it is frosty on that day, but the scenery looks beautiful. Unfortunately, I who had once again left the camera's memory card in the hotel unable to snap those beautiful scenery to be shared out with my fellow readers. We then continue with our schedule by visiting Situ Patenggang right after Kawah Putih which is different from what we have planned because the hot spring that we are about to visit had closed down on that day due to bad weather.
We tended to ride on the "sampan" to Batu Cinta opposite Situ Patenggang, but due to the adults' objection, we were only allowed to snap photos from the far opposite of Situ Patenggang.

After Situ Patenggang, we went to a jeans factory in the middle of the town. So it took us three hours to get there from the uptown. Again, I shopped the most. Should these be something sad, guilty or happy?

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guilty or happy? After shopping and walking for the whole night, four of us - my cousins (Cheryl and Cynthia), my mother and myself decided to go for a massage. Although I have just massaged in the hotel in the morning, but as the massage center had a high rating, so my mother decided to let me try it.

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Going Back to Malaysia

Our flight will depart at 1545, so we managed to visit Pasar Baru, where my cousin and I had yet visit because we were in Trans Studio. When we were on the journey there, I came across a scene which I have hated for my entire life - a police officer forced the citizens to graft them.
After the adults were shopping for clothes and souvenirs, my cousin and I had then gone boring. This is because I had bought too much in the day before and had been restricted continue shopping by my mother, while my cousin had restricted buying limit by his sister. Both of us were crazily acting as a gay partner, but finally burst into laughter because we found ourselves to be humiliated. After several hours shopping, we then returned back to the hotel and prepared to return back to Malaysia.

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Conclusion
This trip did give me great memories, but it also gave me the sense of guilty for spending too much. However, I am really looking forward to visit Bandung again in a short period.

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