Wednesday,Apr 6 2005, 08:11:54 AMPART 66: Farewell to Another US Trainee & My...

  PART 66: Farewell to Another US Trainee & My Departure

 

 

 

JANUARY 8, SATURDAY

 

 

 

          Bayu picked me up from Surabay bus station and brought me directly to the restaurant where there will be another farewell party for their trainee bound to India (I’m sorry again I forgot her name).

 

          This was my second farewell to Aiesec University of Surabaya (US) members as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JANUARY 10, MONDAY

 

 

 

          “All my bags are packed I’m ready to go… I’m leaving on a jet plane; don’t know when I’ll be back again. Oh, babe, I hate to go…”

 

 

 

          Bayu, Fadil, Marshell & Fego delivered me to Surabaya International Airport which is just a 15 minutes ride from Fadil’s place. I got one more hour before departure.

 

          After checking in the airline counter, the Immigration Officer won’t let me in. He told me that I have to pay the Fiscal Fee of Rupia 1 Million (USD 117)!!!

 

          I called on Fadil to help me explain. We argued that I am a foreigner and fiscal fee is only for Indonesian. But he said that I stayed more than 6 months with KITAS Visa (Temporary Resident Blue Card) so I have to pay. Fadil said that a few months ago, they had a Chinese Hong Kong girl who stayed more than 6 months in Surabaya and left without paying any.

 

They checked all the references, books and laws inside the office because the man in-charge is not on-duty during that time. I said I’m running out of time, the plane might leave without me. So I ran to an atm to withdraw some cash (because I have no Rupia bills anymore, I have changed all in to US dollars already) and Fadil’s mother gave me USD100 which is no help also at this time. But I was happy that I can replace this “unexpected last-minute illogical bureaucracy expenses” with the money that Fadil’s mother gave me when I get back to manila to deposit it to my bank account.

 

 

 

          I left Indonesia with a slight grudge.

Wednesday,Apr 6 2005, 08:10:34 AMPART 65: Farewell to AIESEC University of...

 

PART 65: Farewell to AIESEC University of Brawijaya Malang

 

 

JANUARY 7, FRIDAY

 

 

 

          In the evening, Rico arranged a farewell party dinner for me with the rest of the Aiesec UB. Dito and I rode with Fajar’s motorbike to go to the place. As we all know, 3 passengers in one motorcycle is a No-No. We passed by the streets fine, but when we are about to reach the restaurant by making a U-turn, just a few meters away at the U-turn slot were some policemen. Dito, without a helmet, and me as the third guy, had no choice but to JUMP OFF the motorcycle even while it was running 20kph. We jumped to the bushes of the island to cross the other lane and walked to the restaurant. Fajar just went on and we were not noticed. What an experience even in my last night in Malang.

 

 

 

          After dinner, the guys went to Irwin’s place for a drink. Aiesec UB has a new trainee staying temporarily at Irwin’s dorm before he moved to his apartment. This guy (Im sorry I forgot his name) is Turkish but lived & grew up in Germany where he joined aiesec.

 

 

 

 

 

JANUARY 8, SATURDAY

 

 

 

          The next morning, Ricky, Irwin’s friend drove me to Dito’s place coz he said he lives near there. From there, Dito & I went to the university where I met 2 Dutch guys, Peter & Margariet, whose having their own exchange program (not by aiesec) in another department. Then I waited for the rest of the guys to pick us up, have lunch and get together for the last time. This was my last meal in Malang.

 

 

 

          Rico, Wily, Dito, and Agung (without Bagus coz he was in Jakarta) all took me to the bus station to go back to Surabaya. Rico gave me a gift – a big box that I’m not suppose to open till I get to Manila. Then I give them a warm hug, as they are my own relatives.

 

 

 

          I was hoping that I will come back to Indonesia this March but in case I wont be able to return, I said my last “Good-Bye” to my dear friends who treated me well.

 

 

Wednesday,Apr 6 2005, 08:09:03 AMPART 64: Al Akbar & Jawi Temple JANUARY 7,...

  PART 64: Al Akbar & Jawi Temple

 

 

 

JANUARY 7, FRIDAY

 

 

 

          This morning I was going to Malang. But first, Fadil brought me to Al Akbar, now the largest mosque in the whole Java next to Al-Istiq’lal in Jakarta. It was just a quick tour because this is my last chance to visit this holy site. I have seen it many times from a far when I pass by the highway to the south. But this time, I went up to the minaret (tower).

 

 

 

          On my way to Malang, I stop over at Pandaan town just to see and have a picture at the JAWI Temple. A Majapahit King, that succeeded the Singosari Kingdom, visited this temple. It is believed that the name of the island of “Java” originated from this temple.

 

 

 

 

 

The History of Jawi Temple

 

 

 

          Jawi Temple is located in Candi wates, village, Prigen district, Malang Regency, Negarakertagama named it “ Jajawa “ ( 55 : 3 ) or  “ Jawa-Jawa “.

 

          Jawi Temple was built by Kertanagara (Nag.56:1). It is concluded this temple was built during the last period of Singasari, the 13 th Century.
In the matter of function and relation to the archaeologists. Some archaeologists contend Jawi Temple is the funeral temple for Kertanegara according to Negarakertagama which mentioned the King built the temple where was he consecrated.

But some others archaeologists stated Jawi Temple is not for Kertanegara’s tomb by reason that Jawi Temple was built during Kertanegara still alive. Moreover, Sthapaka did not explained Jawi Temple belong to a group of Singasari Temple which is clear for Kertanegara .
If we see, the relief described a man who will do Pradaksina, a ceremony relating to the worshipping of god (Dewayajna), it can be concluded such temple is a worshipping temple.

Monday,Feb 28 2005, 05:47:50 PMPART 63: FAREWELL TO AL MUSLIM & AIESEC...

PART 63: FAREWELL TO AL MUSLIM & AIESEC UNIVERSITY OF SURABAYA

JANUARY 4, TUESDAY

Aiesec arranged a farewell Dutch-treat party for me with most of its members and former officers in a steak house. The president and I made some exchange gifts, chit-chat with the people, made some speeches and took pictures.


JANUARY 5, WEDNESDAY

The students of Grades 4 to 6 conducted a simple farewell program for me. Prayers, speeches, gifts, coins and sweet smiles were handed to me by my children whom I taught and played with for the past 7 months.

Monday,Feb 28 2005, 05:33:15 PMPART 61: NEW YEAR IN JAKARTA DECEMBER 30,...

PART 61: NEW YEAR IN JAKARTA


DECEMBER 30, THURSDAY

I took a plane to Jakarta to spend the New Year expecting that it would be more lively and fun rather than if I stay in Surabaya.
Without knowing where to stay, I clicked on some names in my cell phone. The Filipinos cannot accept me for they had some visitors already. Ika, the girl who had her traineeship in Manila, just got married last Dec. 26, met me in Plasa Indonesia but cannot take me either. I accidentally met Ariel from Bandung with his girlfriend in that mall. And the relatives of my friends from different Aiesec are not available. Some guy from friendster accepted me. Well, what do you know Friendster works!


DECEMBER 31, FRIDAY

I traveled alone to some parts of the city that I haven’t been before, the northern part – Kota, Malaka and Sunda Kelapa. I took different modes of transportation. The BUSWAY has a special designated lane and runs through the city from North to South. The BAJAJ is a rickshaw version of the Tuktuk in Thailand.

GLODOK is the Chinatown, which I did not dare to visit. Its crowded, narrow busy streets can bring me to oblivion. I stayed on the bus to reach the end terminal that is KOTA. This was the old capital during the VOC and Dutch occupation. Just a few meters ahead are the Fatahillah, Serejah and Puppet Museums.

The VOC shipyard was turned into a restaurant and souvenir shop. Across it is the Lookout Tower. I tried to get inside the Sunda Kepala by taking a bemo but it was later that I realized that I was no longer in the port area and the vehicle was running towards east out of the city. I got lost!!! Nah. I just got off the bemo, crossed the street and took the bemo going to the opposite way that brought me back to the Busway terminal. Then I just proceeded to Plasa Semanggi to have dinner.

In the evening, my new friends brought me to Senayan Park and Sports complex for the New Year’s Party Celebration. There were live band performances, on the other side was techno/house music and the other part was hip-hop/rnb. Talking about some party. Those places were not crowded for they fear of some mischief or bombings, and the President announced to ‘lay low’ to sympathize with the victims of the deadly tsunami.

There were some fireworks displays and blowing of improvised horns at the strike of midnight for only 10 minutes or so. But there were no firecracker exploding in the streets, big or small, there were no people shouting and jumping, no merry making, no feast on the dinner tables, and no beers and drunkards.



JANUARY 1, 2005, SATURDAY

I called the airline to transfer my return to Surabaya on this day rather than staying in Jakarta for 3 more days. There was nothing to do for me anymore.
--------------------------------



PART 62: LAST JAUNT IN SURABAYA


JANUARY 3, MONDAY

Fadil and I went to the Immigration to fix Exit Permit papers. After that, he took me for a last stroll around the city where I stayed in for the past 10 months.