Travel Update Year 2014

Eventually, we're arriving at the end of 2014. How time flies very quickly! 

I traveled to many places to work, to meet, to gather, to attend a workshop, to network and to learn about so many things from different people and officials. 

These are some places that I've been visited in 2014:

Bandung (May 2014)

It was a very first time I enjoy Braga City Walk (Braga Ciwalk) over the weekend with mommy, brother, sister in-law and nieces. Mom and me took a chance to buy things,  street vendors, compared prices, tried different snacks. Apparently both of us love two things in common: sightseeing and eating. I was really enjoy my short visit in Bandung and hope I could come with hubby to enjoy Braga City Walk culinary night.





Kuala Lumpur (May 2014)

Straight from Bandung, we were heading to Kuala Lumpur after 2 hours landing in Pekanbaru. Mommy and I went to another our lifetime hang out. We tried the new KLIA2 and the train. It was very convenient transportation mode. I accompanied mommy to visit Suria KLCC and enjoyed our little secret: a visit to a traditional snack restaurant at Suria KLCC, where I tried dim sum, various kue lapis and steam cakes. I attended a symposium and met many new friends. 



Jakarta (July 2014)
I went twice, first to make a visa to Germany, and second to celebrate Eid with the in-laws. It was a new experience for me to make a Schengen visa in German's Embassy. 


Yogyakarta (August 2014)

It is always nice to visit Yogyakarta and to experience its cultural atmosphere again. This time I was stuck in a hotel and had to attend a workshop regarding my job. I enjoyed the workshop, especially when I met some famous in my job area, those people who are prominent in their research area and at International Office, so I could exchange views and inspirations. It was a very first time I visited UGM Headquarter Office and I was proud because I came to UGM as a guest. It was thrilled to know that my University (Universitas Riau) became a case study at Focus Discussion Group. I got a chance to meet two friends at undergraduate level separately. It was a good silaturahmi and everyone was happy to see each other again after 15 years:) 

Bandung (September 2014)
Related to the internationalization task, I spent another three days in Bandung to learn on how the ITB manages its internationalization. I was grateful to take a chance as a team leader to design a Student Exchange Summer Program together with a colleague from Petra, Surabaya during the Focus Discussion Group. I learned so much from her view and experiences in organizing the Summer Programs. Instead of that, Bandung is really jaw dropping for apparel shopping experience in Indonesia. 

Frankfurt (September 2014)
On my way to Oldenburg, I must transit in Frankfurt for 6 hours. The Frankfurt International Airport was no 12 on the busiest airport in the world (58 million passengers in 2013). But, bandara Soekarno-Hatta was no 10 (59.7 million passengers), so I could imagine now which one is the busiest ever. Anyway, I've learned that I must be very patience and keep calm since I must walk for a very long distance (perhaps 1km) to go from international gate to the domestic gate and, in reverse, from domestic to international gate on my way back home. This is not even to mention the crowd of passengers and a very old fashion airport with exposed-ceiling waiting rooms of the airport.

Oldenburg (September 2014)
I think this could be another hometown for me. Being in Oldenburg for three weeks made me realize that I always feel @home for a middle-sized city or a very quiet city, such Pekanbaru, Perth and Oldenburg. Everything is so reachable and people rely on bicycles for transportation. What I really like about Oldenburg is, it always reminds me about life in Perth. The streets are clean, the gardens are beautiful, the public transportation is reliable, the city center is quite small but nice, the architecture is splendid and the air is so healthy. People go to the traditional market almost on daily basis (Pferdemarkt) to buy fresh vegies, fruits, etc or to see horses. The course was held at Univ of Oldenburg. I was glad that I've been granted this scholarships to enhance my knowledge in leadership and management training at the University. The most unforgettable experience was to meet and greet Mayor of Oldenburg!

Bremen (September 2014)

We went to Bremen on a nice Saturday morning to experience this city together. There was a guided tour around Bremen, which I admitted, so interesting but not enough time to hear the guide because everything was so appealing to be photographed. I spent more time to absorb the views, the atmosphere, the architecture, the city path and the history. We took a time to walk the Bremen riverside where so many people selling second-hand things like in car-boot sale (UK) or Sunday market (Australia). I took a chance to experience free ride of Bremen tram to one suburb and did our shopping there. Then we got back to Oldenburg together with the Vietnamese and Sudanese girlfriends. 





Bonn (September 2014)

On a rainy Sunday, we took a ride of a bus to Bonn. I was too excited because I'm going to see Bonn (a capital city of West Germany) and Berlin (a capital city of East Germany) in this program. Bonn is around 5-6 hours drive from Oldenburg, so we spent more time to chat or to sleep in our bus. We arrived at 1pm then we went to the city center to follow a tour. I could not imagine that I've crossed the Rheine River and actually had a lunch at the Rheineland Restaurant. The city center is really big. We visited Beethoven's house and listened to the story of his life. We took a time to have coffee and tea together at the city center. We went to DAAD Headquarters in Bonn and learned about DAAD policy in internationalization.  




Medan (October 2014)
What I love about Medan, is its culinary and a new train line: they are absolutely gorgeous and convenient! I just strolled to the train station from the airport and, the next hour I arrived at the train station. It was just like in Japan or Malaysia. Just to bring your luggage directly to the city center without hesitation about the mode of transportation. Wish Bandara Soetta will have such a nice train station very soon!

Manado and North Sulawesi (November 2014)
It was like a dream come true for me when I got a chance to visit Manado eventually. It is absolutely a different atmosphere and not to mention that I must spend 5 hours flying from hometown. I saw so many coconut trees, looked over a gorgeous seaside and experienced a nice city surrounded by mountains. I didn't come only for a conference, but also to meet my mentor/seniors at Curtin, and to develop a network with friends from different institutions. We also had a chance to visit waruga, a beautiful Lake Tondano, and geothermal site Lahendong at Tomohon. I really enjoyed lunch at Lake Tondano and wished I could return one day with hubby to enjoy the beautiful North Sulawesi.

Jakarta (December 2014)
This time I came to meet Australia Awards Alumni Reference Group annual meeting 2014. I learned about how to develop network and to work in a group with friends from different institutions/offices from all over Indonesia. There was an inspiring speech from Prof Mari Elka Pangestu (our former Minister of Trade) about knowledge based economy. This is certainly something to be developed for Indonesian people. I was pleased with this meeting and, certainly promised to work hard in this division. Insya Allah. Amin.

The photo is courtesy of ARG (http://australiaawardsindonesia.org/index.php/en/arg-news/377-arg-annual-meeting-2014)


Pekanbaru,