Macau Fisherman’s Wharf 澳门渔人码头 – Macau, China

        On our way to go back to Guangzhou, all of a sudden a very special structure in a shape of a black granite volcano caught my attention. Then I summoned my friends to get off the bus and explored the site. I thought it was a fishing location, but it was an amusement park named Fisherman’s Wharf. The admission to the park was free so we just got in without hesitation. 

        The Fisherman’s Wharf is claimed to be Macau’s first and the largest themed attraction and shopping center which sprawls over an area of 111,500 square meters of which 40 percent is a reclaimed land from the sea. Modeled on Euramerican fisherman’s wharf, the park was invested by Ho Hung San, one of the top 10 billionaires in the Hong Kong – Macau region and Chow Kam Fai, a Macau entrepreneur who runs business in tourism, entertainment and gambling industries. Spending about MOP 1.9 billion for the five-years construction, the park was finally inaugurated on December 31, 2005 and officially opened to public on December 23, 2006. Situated on the outer harbor of Macau Peninsula, just a five-minutes walk from the Macau – Hong Kong Ferry terminal, the amusement park has a clock shape. It houses 150 stores and restaurants in various building styles like Amsterdam, Cape Town and Venice, six rides, a 72-room hotel and a casino.

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Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt 天主教艺术博物馆 – Macau, China

        Just several steps from the entrance gate of the Ruins of St. Paul, I found a museum called the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt. Situated at the inner side of the ruins complex, the museum is a commemoration to the sacrifices of the Japanese and Vietnamese martyrs in spreading the gospel of the true salvation in Christ Jesus. I believe those people were not only memorable on earth but also in heaven. Since the admission to the museum is free, many people visit it just to look around. The museum was built on the original place of the church and the college. You just need to go down a flight of stairs to reach it since it is situated at the bottom end of the inner area.

        From 1990 to 1996, the Macau government had been doing excavation along the ruins complex and discovered the crypts of the Vietnamese and Japanese exiles who were involved in the establishment of the front facade of the Cathedral. Then to keep their bones, they finally built a museum which was inaugurated on 23 October 1996.

 

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Ruins of St. Paul 大三巴牌坊 – Macau, China

   
        Being a foreign student overseas is really a fun thing. Firstly, I can stay in that country for a long time because of the student visa, and secondly, I can use my free time to explore the interesting places. Studying in China for one year has given me numerous adventure experiences. During my second semester in Guangzhou just several weeks before my returning to Indonesia, my friends suddenly asked me to join with them to go to Macau. Living in Guangzhou is very convenient and practical because you can travel easily to its neighboring cities like Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau. This time let's join me explore Macau...

        Macau is a small city with thriving economy due to its world-class gambling business. Many people visit Macau to gamble with a hope to bring home a large amount of money. And many of them also go bankrupt because of their debts. So, do not gamble my friends or your life will be miserable.

        Early in the morning, I and my friends set off to Macau by bus. We went to Guangzhou Railway Station and ordered the ticket bus. We took the Zhuhai route. The bus ticket was only RMB 40 per person, quite cheap compared to travel from Hong Kong or Shenzhen. The journey only took about two hours. We then had to go through the immigration to have our passport checked. Although Macau is still part of China, it has its own administrative system including currency and governing system. In the past, the city was occupied by Portuguese, but then handed back to the Mother Land. People in Macau speak various languages starting from Mandarin, English and Spanish. Just like Hong Kong, you do not need visa to enter it.

 

       

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Getting to know Lombok personally

 

        Lombok is not only famous for its pristine beaches and stunning natural view, but it is also acknowledged for its inhabitants who until present still faithfully maintain their traditional culture.

        If you travel to Desa Sade in Lombok, don't miss the precious opportunity to interact with the friendly native inhabitants of Lombok called Sasak people who make up two-third of the total population aside from the Balinese people dwelling there since the past colonization of Majapahit kingdom. Sasak people belong to the Polynesian group and speak a combined language of Sasak, Bali and Sumbawa. 

Religion

 

The majority of Sasak people strongly adhere to Islamic principles although are still influenced by local traditions of animism and dynamism. There are two kinds of Islamic streams in Lombok, Wetu Telu and Wetu Lima. Wetu Telu is a unique belief of the minority of Sasak people with a strong influence of Hinduism and Buddhism mixed with the local traditions. Its followers conduct their shollat or prayer time only three times a day, which is different from the Wetu Lima believers who do a five-time shollat and dominate the entire population.

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Experience the Natural Treasures of Lombok – a heaven on earth

 

        Exhausted with the bustling and thriving of a city life, you might want to find a getaway to relax yourself. If you are in search for serenity and natural beauty, Lombok Island is the perfect destination. Easily reached from Bali via 25-minute flight or six-hour ferry voyage, you could be in one of the most beautiful natural resorts in Indonesia.

       Compared to its counterpart, Lombok still has many unfolded God-made treasures hidden in mountains, beaches and waterfalls, leaving most parts untouched by tourists. Its natural surroundings are mostly well preserved despite some resplendent hotel and entertainment buildings in the city area. 

Putri Mandalika Beach

 

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Wake up!!! This life is short

        Beberapa waktu ini Tuhan terus mengingatkan kepada saya tentang arti hidup manusia di dunia yang fana ini. Kebanyakan dari kita karena kesibukan sehari-hari mungkin tidak sempat atau lupa untuk merenungkan makna hidup ini yang sesungguhnya. Firman Tuhan berkata bahwa dunia ini hanyalah tempat sementara untuk manusia dan manusia hanyalah seseorang asing di dunia ini seperti yang tertulis dalam Ibrani 11:13 "Dalam iman mereka semua ini telah mati sebagai orang-orang yang tidak memperoleh apa yang dijanjikan itu, tetapi yang hanya dari jauh melihatnya dan melambai-lambai kepadanya dan yang mengakui, bahwa mereka adalah orang asing dan pendatang di bumi ini”. Setiap orang cepat atau lambat pasti akan meninggalkan dunia ini untuk menuju kekekalan. Dan salah satu cara untuk menuju kekekalan adalah dengan kematian.

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Meridian View Center 地王大厦– Shenzhen, China

        In the early evening around 6 pm, we set off from Splendid China Folk Village to go to our dream place, Di Wang Da Sha. Joe and I wanted to know what kind of place it is and how it looks like because we did not want to see it only in the movie. Honestly, we had no idea where the building was, so we had to ask for directions. We wanted to find if the building was real, not only a movie fantasy. I was excited to know that the building was real. We took the MTR to go to the tower. After that, we walked for about 10 minutes from the MTR exit. Then, we found it. O thank God. But our stomach was so hungry that we had to have dinner first, a quick one of course because the entrance to the tower would be closed at 11 pm. We hurriedly took the elevator to go to the administration desk. We were very surprised to know that the admission fee was RMB 80 per person. But because we did not want to waste the chance to see the real Di Wang Da Sha, we paid the money. We were then guided by some lady officers to the highest level of the building, the 69th floor. Once the elevator's door was opened, we were too surprised because the real Di Wang Da Sha was not like what we saw in the movie. It was far from our imagination and expectation.

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Splendid China Folk Village 锦绣中华民俗村 – Shenzhen, China

        Do you believe you can actually visit the largest country in the world, China, within only one day? Yes, indeed you can. Let’s find the answer here. Watching Asian drama movies, mainly Chinese movies, has always been my favorite. Driven by the romantic Chinese movie, “Rainbow Sweetheart” featuring Jimmy Lin as the main actor, we were eager to find the building where most of the movie scenes take place, called Di Wang Da Sha or Di Wang mansion. For this reason, after our visit to Hong Kong, we stopped over in Shenzhen. However, the view from the building is at its best at night, so we spent the whole afternoon visiting one of the prime tourist attractions in Shenzhen called Splendid China Folk Village. My boyfriend and mom have visited the site several times so they just accompanied me to go there. The park is very accessible. You only need to take the MTR and get off at the Window of the World Station and you can cross the road since the park is just across the Window of the World. We bought the ticket for RMB 120 per person. I tried to find the English guide map but there was none. So, I just took the Chinese version. Although I could read some Chinese but still reading English is much easier for me. 

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Fairy Lake Botanical Garden 仙湖植物园 – Shenzhen, China

         Before going back to Guangzhou, Farida and I spared some time to visit a site we found on the map called Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. Since we did not understand how to get there by MTR, we took a taxi. We arrived at the garden quite late around 3 pm. The admission fee was RMB 20. We then rushed into it to see what was inside.

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Lotus Hill Park 莲花山公园 – Shenzhen, China

         On my second day in Shenzhen after we visited the Honey Lake Resort, Farida and I continued our exploration of the city to a new site called Lotus Hill Park or also referred to as Lian Hua Shan Park. We knew the site from the tourist map. However, we did not understand how to reach there by MTR or bus so we took a cab. The cab fee from the Honey Lake Resort to the park cost around RMB 45, quite expensive compared to cab fee in Guangzhou. The admission to the park is free so everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of it.

        As I strolled around the park, I did not really find something special there and I felt more like walking than climbing the mountain. As far as my eyes could see, there were only trees, green plantations, and bushes. Maybe it was because I visited the park in the winter. I just noticed that the best time to visit it is summer when hundreds of phoenix flowers come to their full bloom adorning the park with red cloak. Some also say that it is best to visit the park in the late afternoon and early evening.   

 

The tourist map of Lian Hua Shan Park

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Window of the World 世界之窗 – Shenzhen, China

        Shenzhen is well known for its industries and economic development. Due to the strong influence from its neighbor, Hong Kong, the city ranks the third place of the three most developed cities in China after Shanghai and Guangzhou. As the Special Economic Zone of China, Shenzhen now has grown into a thriving big city with many skyscrapers. It is also an industrial city where countless of items are manufactured here. Besides that, it also has some fabulous theme parks and tourist attractions which one of them is Window of the World.

         In January 2010, I visited Window of the World with my friend Farida. We took express train from Guangzhou. The journey lasted for two hours. The express train that connects Guangzhou-Shenzhen is a clean and air-conditioned train with cozy seats. Two hours sitting inside the train were only a short time. We then got off the train and took the MTR to go to the hotel located near the famous Window of the World. After looking for some directions, we finally found the hotel. I forgot the name but it was quite cheap, only 100 RMB per night. Though the hotel was not as clean as a five-star hotel, we found it quite comfortable. After putting down our baggage, we quickly went to the Window of the World. It was winter and there were not many people. The ticket cost around 140 RMB per person.

 

 

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Xiaomeisha Beach 小梅沙海滩 – Shenzhen, China

         My friends, I have finished talking about places I have visited in Hong Kong. Now, let’s follow me to explore Shenzhen, one of the busiest port cities in China that is located on the Pearl River Delta. The first time I visited Shenzhen was summer 2009 when my church friends asked me to join them in a tour to a beach in Shenzhen called Xiaomeisha. Initially, they decided to have this trip to gather Indonesian students who stayed in Guangzhou during summer holiday. I also invited my brother, who at that time was spending his holiday in Guangzhou, to join us. We then joyfully headed to the beach by a rented van.  Along the journey, we sang Christian songs happily, talked to each other and laughed together. 

Hanny, Farida, Fanny, Fali, Ci Lily and I in the van. Girls power… hahaha

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Hong Kong Disneyland 香港迪士尼乐园 – Hong Kong, China

        Hong Kong is almost identical with Disneyland. Almost everyone who visits Hong Kong will always put it on the first list of their travel plan. Is Disneyland that attractive? What does it have that people would love going there despite the pricey entrance fee? Mmh... I was trying to figure it out during my second visit to Hong Kong. This time I went with my mom and boyfriend. My mom always heard from her friends that she must visit Disneyland because it is the icon of Hong Kong. My boyfriend who has visited Disneyland several times also said the same thing. However, when we wanted to go there he could not join because he had a church ministry. So, finally only mom and I set off for the park.

        It was Saturday afternoon, and the sun was very sunny. Before we went there, we had expected that the Disneyland would be very crowded as it was summer holiday. Of course, many parents would bring their children to the park. Therefore, if you want to visit the park you’d better avoid weekends and peak seasons unless you want to end up having a time-consuming and tiring holiday. Actually, I dislike visiting too crowded places, but this time I had no choice because I had to accompany my mom since it was her first time at Hong Kong. I recklessly tidied up and then together with my mom rushed to the MTR. It was already 1 pm. and we did not want to waste our time.
 

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Golden Bauhinia Square 金紫荆广场 – Hong Kong, China

        Every time I visited Hong Kong, I always grabbed the free travel guides provided at the immigration entrance. The book mentioned that one of the tourist attractions in Hong Kong is the Golden Bauhinia Square. Since I had not visited the site during my first visit there, I was determined to go there on my second visit. I asked my mom and boyfriend to go there. We asked for directions and took the MTR to Wan Chai station. We then walked across a bridge and kept walking for about 15 minutes until we reached there.

        Located next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center across the Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier that operates ferries to Tsim Sha Tsui, the Golden Bauhinia Square or also known as the Expo Promenade is an open area that has become a popular tourist destination in Hong Kong. The golden sculpture has a shape of Hong Kong’s very own bauhinia flower or known as the Hong Kong orchid that becomes the national emblem of the HKSAR and can be found all over Hong Kong as well as on the Hong Kong flag and on the back of Hong Kong coins.

 

   

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St. John’s Cathedral 圣约翰座堂 – Hong Kong, China

        Going to church is always a pleasant thing to do for me because I like to be in God’s house and dwell in His presence. His presence is just like a heaven to me. Whenever I have problems, a visit to church will always refresh me. So, if you are facing life difficulties and looking for a place that can take your burdens away, do not go anywhere but church. There you will experience God’s love and help. As I was waiting for the Big Bus to come and pick me up to go to the next destination, my mom and I visited St. John’s Cathedral that beautifully stands just across the Peak Tram station. Built in the style of Victorian Gothic, the cathedral is the oldest Anglican and the first Christian church in Hong Kong city. Dwarfed by the towering skyscrapers including the Bank of China Tower, the HSBC Building, the Legislative Council Building and the Central Government Offices, the church was constructed by the Governor, Sir John Davis on 11 March 1847 and finished in 1849 under the first Bishop of Victoria, Bishop George Smith. It underwent extension in 1873 and during the Japanese era, it was used as a club house for Japanese community that has caused severe damage on the building. It was then fully repaired and declared a historical building in 1996.

 

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Sampan Ride on Aberdeen Harbor – Hong Kong, China

        After visiting the Repulse Bay, we continued our Big Bus Tour to the Aberdeen Harbor. The bus dropped us at the Aberdeen station and then we were soon welcome by a Chinese guy. Then an old lady of 70 years old also approached us and ordered that guy to prepare his sampan. While he was turning on the boat machine, the lady asked us to show our sampan ride ticket. I just found out that she was the owner of the boat. We then boarded the boat and the boat operator warmly welcomed us. He took us around to see the fishing village and the Jumbo restaurant.

 

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Repulse Bay 浅水湾 – Hong Kong, China

        Are you a beach person? I am not, but I love natural views. Visiting a beach in summer is not a good idea for me because I get tanned easily and I hate being tanned. But, thank God, when I visited one of the most famous beaches in Hong Kong, the Repulse Bay, the weather was friendly. The sun was shining softly. Continuing our Big Bus Tour, we stopped at the Repulse Bay. The beach is a beautiful white-sand beach with pristine water and tranquil atmosphere.
        The bus stopped at the bus stop and we needed to take staircases to go down to the beach. It was very beautiful. The beach was not too full with people. There were only a few visitors at that time. Some were lying on the beach enjoying the sun bathing, while others were swimming. The view there is like the beach in Shen Zhen, Xiao Mei Sha, the one I visited once. The beach is a perfect place to enjoy nature in the midst of a big city like Hong Kong.

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Big Bus Tour – Hong Kong, China

        Just like what the name means, the fragrant harbour, Hong Kong indeed is a beautiful city of harbour surrounded by seas and ships. Hong Kong has always been one of the most favorite destinations in Asia and tourists usually travel via Hong Kong before visiting the Mainland China or other countries. It was in the afternoon that I and family decided to take Ferry to cross Central to Tsim Sha Tsui. It was the first time for me traveling by Ferry in Hong Kong for I always thought that taking a Ferry was pricey. Interestingly, on our way to the pier, we found "The Big Bus Tour" office on the second floor of the Central Ferry Pier. Curiously I entered the office and asked a few questions about the Big Bus Tour. The Philippian staff excitedly explained to us the programs they had. After some discussion, we decided to take the tour. There were some packages, but we took the Premium one that cost each person HKD 350. It included a one-day-tour, a free night tour and a free pass to The Peak Tram and Sky Terrace.

     

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Ladies Market 女人街 – Hong Kong, China

        Visiting Hong Kong has always been a fascinating thing for me. I love the city very much. To me, Hong Kong is a never-sleeping small city. I really enjoy walking along the pavements just to see people passing by, bargaining things, making performance and doing other things. The night view there is really unique and I really love it. Most of the stores are open until midnight, which is a rare view in China. Up until midnight, the streets are also filled with crowds of people busy doing their business.

        A visit to Hong Kong is incomplete without shopping for it is one of the reasons Hong Kong is known for. Just like its name, Mong Kok in Cantonese means “busy corner”, the area according to the Guinness Book of Records is the most densely populated place on the planet with over squeezing 130,000 people per km2 and is one of the largest shopping areas in Hong Kong that attracts many visitors and shoppers. So, if you are a shopaholic, it is a place you must not miss. One of the most famous shopping districts in Mong Kok is called the Ladies Market. If you suddenly feel bored in the middle of the night, strolling around the market makes a good visit. While doing some night-shopping, you can also be mesmerized into the hustling of the city's nightlife.

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Nan Lian Garden 南莲园池 – Hong Kong, China

        On the last day of my stay in Hong Kong, Michelle’s aunt took us to visit a remarkable garden in the middle of the Kowloon city, called Nan Lian Garden or “Southern Lotus”. We took MTR, got off at Diamond Hill station and then took Exit C2. The admission to the garden is free and it is open from 7am to 9pm. It is said that the garden is packed with tourists on weekends, so it is better to visit it on weekdays to avoid queuing with others to take pictures. Fortunately, when I went there, there were not many people so I could stroll around the garden without having too much disruption. As I entered the garden, I was amazed at the beautiful Chinese architectural style. And here is where the adventure began!

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Ocean Park 香港海洋公园 – Hong Kong, China

        When I was a little child, my parents took me to visit a marine conservation “Sea World” at Jakarta, Indonesia. At that time, I was amazed to know I was surrounded by many fish starting from the small to the huge ones swimming all over me in a gigantic glass aquarium. I always thought that the one in Jakarta was the most beautiful marine conservation in the world. However, I made up my mind once I visited Ocean Park in Hong Kong last January 2011.

        Aside from the well-known Disneyland, Hong Kong actually has another large theme park called Ocean Park. On the second day of my trip there, Michelle and I preferred visiting Ocean Park to Disneyland for we wanted to have a different taste this time. I quickly rushed to take a shower and wear my pink sweater and boots, ready to set off to the park. It was a cloudy day and the weather was chilling. After we got everything done, we departed from the auntie’s house heading to the MTR station. We took MTR to the Admiralty Station. Then, we crossed the road and found the bus that would take us to the Ocean Park. The bus number is 629. We bought the entrance ticket at the bus locket to avoid any possible long queue. It cost us 250 HK$. I used my Octopus card to pay the bus fee. The bus was a two-storey bus, a typical Hong Kong bus that you hardly find in other places. Michelle and I were very excited to go the upper level, but unfortunately it was already full. So we just stayed downstairs. It only took us approximately half an hour to reach the site.

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