Dank u well, Merci, Grazie: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy! #BreakAfterISFIT

February 16 2015

Dank u well Amsterdam

Tussen Takk Norway for the beautiful experiences.

We continue our journey. Valen will be my companion during my extend after ISFIT. We met a lot of ISFIT participants in Trondheim airport. The journey took almost 4 hours from Trondheim to Amsterdam. We flew at 06.00 am, and we arrived at 10.00 am CET. During my journey, my companion is Mr. Dan from Oslo. He shared everything about Norway. I shared my experiences as well in Trondheim. He asked me to come again, and he will accompany me playing ski as he has some groups who usually arrange some groups for playing ski. For sure Sir, I hope I can go back to Norway someday.

AMSTERDAM, WE’RE COMING : )

From Schiphol Airport, we went to Amsterdam Central Station. We stayed at Icha’s house, Indonesian student who are studying at University of Amsterdam. She lives in Spaarnsdammerstraat, so we had to take bus to get to her house.

If you’re in Amsterdam, better you buy the bus ticket for daily pass. It’s for a whole day, and can be used for metro and bus. It’s cheaper than 2,9 euro for 1 ticket.

We put our stuffs, then start to explore this bicycle city.

Volendam was our first destination. To see its beauty, we went there to see the traditional costume of Holland, windmill as well (actually it’s only 1 windmill there in Volendam, we have to go to Zandaam if we wanna see a lot of windmills. But, we only spent 1 day there. Tomorrow, we have to continue our journey. Thus, we just traveled to Volendam, then went back to Amsterdam Central, to visit museum, church, and so on.

This is the details of the tickets:

Amsterdam Central-Volendam 10 euro (take bus number 316)

Photos in Holland Traditional Costume 20 euro

Bus Amsterdam 2,9 euro each person

24 hours (one day ticket): it is cheaper!

February 17

Dank u well

Tot zien Amsterdam. Brugge will be our next destination. We took the train to Brussel first, then from Brussel we continued to go to Brugge by domestic train. We arrived at Brugge at 10 am (almost 3 hours and a half from Amsterdam to Brugge)

Hi Brugge, everything’s good here. The weather, it is not as cold as in Norway. But still cold. I love it so much:) We walked through Centrum Minerasportwater, walked through churches, a lot of old buildings typical Brugge.

Basilica of Holy Blood “Veirlig of BloedBasiliek“ , Groningen Museum, Brugge Museum, having tour around Brugge central city. We don’t have to take bus. Just walk around, we can go to a lot of beautiful places. Don’t forget to try strawberry waffle from Belgium as well.

Brugge is a small city which has its unique, typical wonderful building, we enjoyed so much being here. Sadly said, we’re only several hours here. We have to continue our trip to Paris. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Unfortunately, we can’t be here on that day. :( Tot zien Brugge.

[to be continued]

Trouble happened during our journey from Brugge to Paris. The journey was supposed to be: Brugge-Kortijk, Kortijk-Lille, Lille-Paris (at 8pm from Brugge, the time estimation for arrival at Paris 11.30pm).

We couldn’t catch the train to Lille when we stopped at Kortijk. We only had 2 minutes to move to line. But, the train from Brugge to Kortijk was late during the way to Kortijk. At the end, we only had 2 minutes, it’s impossible to move fast. So, we’re late. It’s already 10pm. There’s no more train to Lille. It was the last train. We asked for the train officers as we think it was not our fault.

Belgian guy, his name is Barry, helped us. He’s trying to talk to the officer and trying to find another train from the nearest station (even though it’s impossible). He couldn’t do anything as well. He just said the first train to Lille then Paris will be tomorrow, no more train in this night.

He helped us to look for a place to stay this night as it’s impossible to wait in the station for tomorrow morning. Thank you Sir. It’s the best way during that problem, looking for hostel/hotel to stay, and will take the train for the next day.

“To live is to experience things” Paulo Coelho

February 18

It’s time for us to catch the train on the next day after we had a rest. We tried to explain to the officer that it was not our mistakes, so we didn’t have to buy new ticket from Kortijk to Lille, but from Lille to Paris, we should buy a new one as it’s different. But no problem. We learned from this journey, sometimes everything didn’t go smoothly. Be patient, face all of problems with pray and there’ll be a way for sure.

Happy Ash Wednesday! Wondering we’re still in Brugge, we can have a mass in this beautiful yet in that silent city, seeing blood of Christ in “Veirlig of BloedBasiliek“. But Paris has waited for us. Keep moving!

From Paris Nord station, we took metro to Odeon, to put our stuffs and meet kak Tya, my senior in UKP4, she got a scholarship to study Master in Science Po Paris. We went to Science Po, and suddenly met Khasan from Uzbekistan! :D One of isfit participant, we didn’t meet him in Norway but we met in Paris :) thanks to kak Tya. Merci! While kak Tya had a class, we traveled around there. Fortunately, Museu de Louvre’s near from there! so we went there, enjoying a lot of beautiful creatures from legendary painters, sculpturers, especially the special one: Monalisa. Thanks God for giving me this chance to see your beauty creation in Paris. Wedding in Kana, history of Chatolic, history before and after Christ, Greece mythology and so on. Loving them so much! We’re not allowed to take photos.

Museu do Louvre tickets: 12 euro (if you’re under 25: we only pay 6 euro)

Lock Love Bridge. Beautiful river. Beautiful old buldings, French Parliament I and Valen, we explored this city by just two of us. But Khasan said, tomorrow he’ll be available to accompany us exploring Paris! Yuhuu merci Khasan.

Sadly said, we couldn’t join the Ash Wednesday mass at Notre Dame Cathedral Paris, as we brought all of our stuffs, (we’ll stay at kak Sally’s house in Paris, we met this night at a mass, but the security forbid us to come in because of our stuffs, thus we just sat outside, in the middle of cold weather, just pray in our heart.) Finally we met kak Sally after dinner and the mass was finished. We’ll stay at Charles Michel, kak Sally’s house. It’s not really far from the Eiffel Tower, so we can see Eiffel Tower from the window clearly. Blessed!

"But Pope Francis has asked us to reconsider the heart of this activity this Lenten season. According to Francis, fasting must never become superficial. He often quotes the early Christian mystic John Chrysostom who said: “No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.”

February 19

Arc de Triomphe! From kak Sally’s house in Charles Michel, we took bus number 42 and got off in Rue D E Point De Las Champe Rond Point, Des Champes Elysees (haha very long name for bus station). We had to walk around 15 minutes to Arc de Triomphe! It’s so beautiful!

Continuing our journey, next destination is Mary Mount Sacre Ceur! We took metro 2 from Charles De Gaules Etoille to Anvers, goes to Scare de Ceur. A combination between church and mosque, an incredible building! We prayed, put our wish there. Old architecture, beautiful creation. Basilique Du Sacre Ceur De Montmartre, see you again! Au revoir!

Eiffel Tower, one of seven wonders, we took eiffel tower today. (From Anvers we took metro2, then change to metro 6) What a beautiful places! Very cold weather, especially at the top of the tower. I can’t believe I was at the top of this tower. Enjoy our day there, seeing the lights shine in the evening toward night day. Amazing! we have to be careful in Eiffel as someone can steal our stuff.

We have to meet Khasan, so we finished spending our time in Eiffel! We met near St Michel fountain, we waited him as he still had to meet his Professor first. Yeay can’t wait to eat and walk around with Khasan.

Khasan told us about the history of Paris, historical building there, we walked through the Notre Dame, St Michel Fountain, big bridge, statues near St Michel, canal sight seeing, and last we ate Kebab this night! Khasan treated us, how kind he is. He showed the best French restaurant, but sadly said it was full on that day. So tomorrow, we’ll be back for eating the best French restaurang ever! We enjoyed to hear Khasan’s stories about economic system, government and municipal. Thanks Khasan!

Beautiful night. I don’t want to leave this city, actually. I just want to spend the time here, view the Notre Dame across he bridge, cold weather.. ah I don’t wanna go home, just want to stay in Europe. :P Almost 1 month we’ve already spent our time here.

February 20

Orsy Museum was our first destination on that day! Van Gogh, one of my favorite painters, I looked at his creation, he is from Belgium actually. But, he lived for a long time in Netherlands. I love The Starry Nights Painting. One of my favorite. After that, we went to Orangerie Museum. Paris, as the center of art, center of famous museums, galleries, just wanna stay here, and enjoy all of these wonderful creations. Unfortunately, i just have 3 days here.

Ticket for Orangerie and Orsy total: 16 euro. (under 25)

After museum time, we explored one of the underground ossuaries named Catacombs of Paris (Catacombes de Paris). Long time ago, it was used for hidden place for the military when there’s a war. A lot of stories about this place.

February 21

Tour Eiffel for today. We’ve already been there but today i wanna relax there. Valen went to Versailles, I didn’t go there. I just walked through Eiffel, visited Marine Museum, Jardin Luxembourg. I love Jardin Luxembourg so much. It’s wonderful with the big garden is around the Palace/Palais Du Luxembourg. Especially, in this weather, winter please don’t stop. I really love this weather. I’ll miss this if I’m back to the tropical country.

Palais De Tokyo, Museu National D Art Gallery, Museu Modern, Square Thomas Jefferson, National Theater. We had a mass at Notre Dame. This is our last day. Tomorrow morning we have to go to Venice from CDG airport. As kak Sally’s friend has to stay there, I and Valen moved to the hostel near Paris Nord. I went there by bus after the mass, alone because Valen went there directly after she visited versailles. Paris Nord in the night was scary. I almost got lost, walked from the station in the night, in the cold weather. Turn around, look for the hostel where we’ll stay, but nobody knows. I’m afraid because everybody got drunk there, bars are everywhere. I just pray in my heart, hope everything will be alright. Finally, someone from the other hostel explained the way to my hostel, he’s very kind. Thanks so much God, in the middle of afraidness, you give Your angel. I almost cry before.

[to be continued]

February 22

Morning has come! We took the bus near our hostel to go to the CDG airport.

Bye Paris Merci Beacoup!

10.30 we arrived in Venice. Only several hours here, we didn’t stay here, just enjoy Venice for only 1 day! Venice, ti amo Venice. From Paris, it only took 2 hours to Venice by plane. We paid for daily pass ticket 24 euro, for taking the bus, water bus, and all transportation in Venice.

We took water bus to go to Doge Palace, St Marco, and Basilica St Marco. We visited Piazza St Marco, Museu Marco. Gondola, unique transportation from Venice, I can’t believe that I’m here, on gondola, I think it’s a dream but no, it’s real. Thanks so much dear God for giving me this chance to see Your beautiful creations.

Rialto, wonderful bridge, we enjoyed the view in the night, you can imagine, it’s amazing! It’s our last night and last day (actually we’re only 1 day here). Venice, arrivederci! Preparing our next stop to Roma. Last stop actually. The journey from Venice Menstre, 00.20, till 06.37 we arrived in Rome Termini station.

February 23

Fr Niko picked us in Rome Termini station! After we spent around 6 hours from Venice to Rome by train, i enjoyed so much my trip in the train there. Trenni Italy gave us a good service! Someday, I have to go here with Papa, Mama, Mas Dito and Nindi. I do hope God. :D

We’ll stay at Benedictin Sister house, there’re several people/tourists will stay there as well. Starting our journey to Colloseum. I took a tour guide. We learned about history of Roma, Colloseum. We looked around Imperiale Forum, Foro Montana, Foro Augustus, Basilica St. Maria, Castilla Angelo in the night.

Februari 24

Travelling to Rome city was awesome! Rome is an old yet wonderful city, Spanish step (Piazza de Spagna in Italy language) became our destination today. Unfortunately, it is still in renovation. We can’t see its full beauty but it is not problem for us. We can feel its beauty.

We entered the Pantheon, long time ago this building was used for the worship the Deities. Now, Pantheon becomes the church, was built in August Caesar. Next, Fontana de Trevi, throw the coin. Hopefully, we’ll be back soon to Rome. *praying*

Piazza Popolo.

Arrici di St Rocco.

Every building that we stepped in, we prayed to God, just to give thanks for blessing us until today. We can see God's beauty in these world. Amazing!

Ciao Roma. Grazie!

February 25

Vatican today! Today we’ll visit Basilica of St Pietro, Roma, hi Papa Fransisco! Vatican is only 15-20 minutes from our guest house. In the morning, we walked there. Gratefully, it is not too crowded on that day. The sun shone bright. Good day! We saw vatican museum, learned from the audio guide about the history of vatican, and some explanations of the pictures and statues there. Looked around Pope’s thomb, it’s touching to see that.

Brother Hrvoje (from Croatia), kak Nia (Indonesian who lived in UK, studied at Gregoriana with fr Niko) and Virginia (from Venezuela) became our companion in our last day. Valen, fr Niko and I, we ‘ve spent this night together with brother Hrvoje, kak Nia and Virginia. Thanks God for this beautiful night. We walked in the night, just enjoyed our last night in Rome. Br Hrvoje is our tour guide tonight!: ) He explained several historical building which we pass by.

February 26

Today, our journey will be finished. We have to go back to our country. The flight from Rome to Jakarta was in the afternoon. Thanks Europe for the beautiful experiences. See you again! 26 days here in Europe, thank you dear Jesus for your blessing. New mission has waited. Can’t wait to face it.

Mbak Erny, mas Mixon, Tan were my companion during our flight home to Jakarta from Dubai (I took Fly Emirates so from Rome, we transited in Dubai). I feel so blessed to meet them, shared stories of life together. Tan is from Brazil (I told him I was there 2 years ago, then I sang Brazilian song, then the stewardess is from Brazil as well. It was a nice exxperience!) Mas Mixon worked in Algeria, and mbak Erny is living in Germany, but go back for a while in Indo, his husband is from Germany, so she has lived there for almost 9 years. It took 8 hours from Dubai to Jakarta, but I felt like it was just 1 hour. I was very happy to meet them. We said goodbye each other. Tan has to go to Yogyakarta to visit his girlfriend. Ciao guys! It’s pleasure to meet all of you.

some of my photos: