Stopped by Vin Diesel between Belgium&French (part 1)

(if its real Vin Diesel i would beg him to arrest me---ohhh yeah *drools*) keep on dreaming! hahah! 

May 24, 2011

I had no idea that my journey from Belgium back to Paris would be so tense.
Let me start from beginning.

Brussel.
It was before 8am i was rushing from Van Gogh Youth Hostel to the Brussel Midi/Bruxelles Midi train station. I wasn't able to fine the Eurolines bus office at the train station the day before. Because i was tired the day before and i was thinking it should be there at the train station. Its so huge!

Huge Brussel Midi

I did very huge mistake. I was mistaken between EUROLINES with EUROTRANS. Its huge mistake that i didn't see it very good hahaha.. Eurolines is the bus company and Eurotrans is the train at the train station!! i thought its just like in Indonesia should be the same company etc. But its not.

Eurolines Bus in Brussel

So when i was arriving at the train station i went there, and i ask the security that standing there with very little english he said he doesn't know where Eurolines bus office is! I should check in before 10 am and i made huge mistake.


I was still walking from one end to another at the train station, try not to be panicking to find someone who able to speak english! the main language in here either French or Dutch and both i am not mastered!

And some help comes from those who you never expected..always like that. I went out to one of the train station ends.. because its like a long straight line from one to another. I was at the door, with my purple huge suitcase when i almost step on wet floor that a young guy just moping the floor. I said sorry right away. But he said in fluent English, no problem, and he smile. I was walk away and then think, he speak English! i went back and poke him and said sorry again for bothering! i ask if he know where Euroline bus office is. And he knew!!! he said its outside the train station! hahah thats why i can not find it! he even went to the street and point the directions and distance! omg! On the ticket that i had it only said Bruxelles Midi which is the train station!

Hidden Eurolines Office next to Bruxelles Midi

I was dragging my suitcase, i had to cross the cobble street.... its the Avenue Fonsny, from across the street i could see there is a bus station next to the train station. But the Euroline bus office not there. Because i were there yesterday afternoon. I had my ticket booked before i even leave Indonesia (i use online booking). The bus office is right across the street where the bus station is like that guy said. But its just not that easy to spot too!

After walking about 100 meters passing a hotel (hotel Continental) i finally spot the white door with Eurolines name on it. Its very tiny like 4X5 meters big after a convenience shop. The worse part when i went in the two old guys on the counter not really speak good english. There are two people there beside me a couple from Spain. The husband good enough to help me to translate from english to france, merci beacoup! :) i bet i hurt his ear much with my Eng-French hahah..

Sitting there on the back of the office i was thinking its not that very different than any Indonesian bus office. Small.. at the back of the office there stack of chairs and tables... don't know what was that for.

The guy shout in French i had no idea what he said but seeing those couple grabbing their luggage i went with them and ask if the bus coming, he said yes and we had to hurry... where?? lol i was half running following them, their suitcase bigger than mine! the two old guy not even following us they just stay at the counter office.

We walk back to the road where i came before and cross the street. Right between the train station and the bus office in the middle of road there are short of small pavement. Stood there the winds are chilling! the guy ask me where i came from i said Indonesia, he had no idea where Indonesia is! hahah but i told them its where you got most of 33C degrees the whole year. He said some part of Spain just like that... the wife not speaking english but i know she try to understand our conversation. The husband translate it for her most of time. When he ask if i study here or going with someone else i said all by my self, he explain that to her and she took my hand haha and said something he translate that his wife said i am very brave! haha.. Its very nice of her :)

Not long after 15 minutes our bus coming. I just dont want to made mistake i ask the driver before jump in, is this goes to Paris? he said "oui mademoiselle" ok thats it.. haha there are 4 more people come with us. There is no bus seat numbers on my ticket. I had to show my ticket to the bus driver, he took one of the ticket for him (print it double!! dont forget!)

When i got in... i see the seat mostly full on the back... i had a choice to sit near seemly a father and daughter, a big woman with big curly hair (and pierced lips) and ohh very sour face old woman, and old man who smile too much to me.

I walk in and ok what ever the big lady smile to me she might be my age... so.. i went there and put my backpack on the top compartment and said "excuse moi" she smile, ok thats good sign... i put my ipod on and just try to enjoy the journey.

Soon i start to realize the next person to me not a woman!!! lol when i put my hand next to "her" omg my fingers and palms are much smaller.. i was lol really gasping!! omg! hahah such pretty guy! he look at me and smile again. I end up had small conversation with him. His name is Thierry. Very nice and friendly guy. He was several times look at me before we talk... hahah i was afraid *about psyco girl duuhh* but then he ask me... what are you listening to? so i share my ipod with him.

I introduce him to Anggun, and some of indonesian song, his face was frowning. We still had some language barrier sometimes as he speak in French and i try to understand it. He speak little bit english. He said he never travel to Asia, i said he should try. He check up my play list and laugh when he know a song there, mostly i put 1980-1990 song there especially rock band. I also had huge range of music on my ipod from classical music such as Mozart and Bethoven, some pop Nsync, Michael Buble, Linkin Park etc. He love music as much as i do! Thierry is an artist and he also on his way to Paris :)

My beau new friend Thierry!

It was a very nice journey with a friend to talk with. Event hough most of time he will speak in French and me in English. Its quite funny tho... its a good example about ... hey you shouldn't worry about languages!! haha better if you know French, English, and Arabic etc.. but most of time the willingness to communicate.. at least you try! And it worked for me :)

You can not wait until you brush up your languages abilities to travel around :D would take you ages to travel then!

About one hour the bus stop and i ask him what happened? because we're not even close to Paris, he said just stop at resting area. Its near gas station. So i went down and go to toilet like most of passenger. Thierry ask me if i want to eat anything, i said i am full. He went to eat some frites. I share the story about the best frites in Brussel. All the debate about the best frites comes :D

We had to go back to the bus again when the driver turn on the engines. Unlike Indonesian bus, he didnt count the passenger anymore hahaha in Indonesia bus driver re count the passenger every time he stop incase if he missed anyone! but its not the case there hehehe... i cant imagine what happened if i dont know about this and went to toilet and the bus left me hahah...

I was almost fall a sleep while Thierry still busy with my ipod, when i see the blue and red lights on the bus window and sirens. I was thought... woooww.. a real highway chase!

Soon then i realize they were surrounding the bus from both side and there were loud megaphone sound saying things in French and oh my the bus still running! i was like whats going on? i was panicking a bit, Thierry?? same he say its ok but i know he also worry!

I was thinking something bad like bus hijacking or terrorist on the bus as they were so many police involve!! and the worse the back passenger were starting to yell and very noisy in French language... most of the passenger on the back part of the bus are dark skin-African people. And now i am more worried.

The only thing i was thinking that time--why on earth this driver still driving fast??!!

Then i found out he was trying to find a wide open space, a gas station with few trailers parking there and omg over 6 police cars and the whole troops. Babies were crying other passenger were seemed very worried, and me? i was saying "here we go, i will be on Indonesia news this time"---news flash "indonesian girl among those arrested with the terrorist gank with over 1kgs dope and trafficking guy and illegal immigrants" hahah... *had very active imagination when i am in panic mode*

one of the scene came on my head!! *too much CSI*

Suddenly Thierry said, prepare your passport, its probably just a boarder check. I was like hahah ok grabbing my passport tight! When the bus finally stop. The police rush in, and talk in ..again French language and then German language ohh shuutt.. hahah i dont understand both!!. They said we stay in our seat, and prepare documents-Thierry said. They told the bus driver to open the luggage compartment.

They check our passport one by one and, one of the guy ask me where i came from and why i want to go to Paris etc. After that, they ask all guys come out first one by one. Thierry look at me.. and im in despair omg no translation anymore hahahah.... He said just walk outside when they told you to, and show your passport.

And then after all guys go out, i could peep on window all luggage was on the asphalt on the gas station. One by one they arrange it. What the?

And then a police shout again, and the woman on front move out. I think they ask the woman all out one by one too. They search on us one by one. Policewoman do the search.

The police use complete automatic weapons that i could see on movies, and bullet proof jacket and there are dogs... omg what is this??? **as crazy as it sound they all looks good>>this is my stressed out brain talking**

They point one by one the suitcase and ask the owner to open it up. Check every details of it even the sew lines the back of the luggage. I saw Thierry stand next to his backpack and talking to a police. And when every single suitcase was pointed mine still there and no one check it yet.

A police came and see my suitcase tag and ask around people who stood up next to the bus including me, i raise my hand, i guess they ask whos luggage is this. When i get closer then i was thinking.. geezz this one looks like Vin Diesel with French language, and pretty damn killer smile... *should listen when he said mademoissele* ohh ohhh ohhh... hahahha.... and then his friend came a long gezz... this one even nicer.. and they ask me to open my luggage... darn!! hahah i was sitting on my suitcase to close the zip... hahah.. im dead!

I was thinking about the 5 pirates DVD, fake Louis Vuitton wallet, and the worse hahah indonesian food like gado-gado pasta, and one plastic bag of my meds!! omg! hahaha i was smiling and i know i will be in trouble because honestly forgot if i ever read what kind of drugs that allowed to bring in to Paris. Even some cold meds are prohibited in certain country. Uhmm... not wise!





............to be continued......................

A book from Backpacker Girls

Its been quite sometimes since i wrote here *sorry* i had so much thing going on.

First, i start my Russian language class since November 2011, and i almost complete the first level now. Also i work in a new office so, its been a busy days for me.

A good news coming to my mail box on December, a publisher in Indonesia ask me if i could write a book about backpacking for girls. So, yessss..... i think some of you wrote me mail to ask if i wrote a book... now i could say yes.. i am :)

Just wish me good luck!

Paris, je t'aime!!! Paris day 1-Part 1

Its Paris.... i am hereee!!  bwahaha! sumpeh loooo!!

Sampai di CDG/Charles De Gaulle sekitar jam 10 lewat lumayan bingung juga sebab semua petunjuk dalam bahasa perancis . Aku coba artiin aja dikit2.. huhu walopun jadi anak asuh paling bandel waktu kursus bahasa perancis lumayan ada gunanya juga dikit2. Dari pesawat lumayan jauh juga menuju ke tempat pengambilan tas… aku rasa aku naik ke ban berjalan paling lama yang pernah aku naikin.. keknya naik ke terowongan dulu..

Aku yang tadinya ngantuk berat somehow feel so ecstatic, alias gak ada ngantuk2nya… semua hal di sini beda dengan di Indonesia… dan all sudden aku jadi mahluk langka, kebalikan dengan di Indonesia, bulenya sedikit orang indonesianya banyak…

Akhirnya aku ketemu juga tempat pengambilan barang yang ada di lantai entah yang keberapa (sebab melalui tunnel yang panjang (naik ke atas pula) dan naik tangga lagi…. Hummmm

Kesan pertama sama CDG entah kenapa aku lebih suka Changi Airport… lebih terang dan lebih jelas… warna abu2 CDG jadi ngebuat kusam… sama orang yang buru2 lalu lalang sana sinih jadi bikin tambah bingung. Huhuh… tapi aku kok ngerasa excited aja ya!!

Its brand new thing, the languages is so different! Bahasanya beda banget… aku juga dengar bahasa selain Perancis di sini.. aku kagum dengan Eropa yang mixed kek gini! Kalau Asia yang gado2 gitu di satuin kek gini jadinya apa ya??

Sudah di tempat pengambilan bagasi aku liat monitor dan liat penerbangan Lufthansa yang aku naik tadi ada di belt 11… tapi setelah hampir satu jam… kok…tas aku gak keluar2 juga.

Sambil nunggu aku buka tas file aku dan liat alamat Guillaume, host aku yang di Perancis sama nyiapin “carnet” yang dikirim sama my beloved Mr T (baekknyaaaaa!). Oh ya, aku pake Couch Surfing buat stay di Paris. Dengan Couch Surfing kita bisa tinggal di rumah orang Perancis dan lumayan merasakan tinggal sama orang Perancis tuh sehari2 gemana sih??

Nanti deh aku tulis soal Couch surfing ini khusus di salah satu postingan aku. Oh ya… couch surfing ini gratis loh! Aku gak mau nulis ini sarana buat menghemat, tapi memang pengeluaran untuk hostel yang sekitar 60 Euro/malam diluar sarapan... jadi lumayan terselamatkan uang awak! Tapi jangan semuanya di gantungin sama host ya… ini bukan sarana gratisan… jangan “ngaruk” kata orang Sumatra… jangan kelewatan!

Aku tinggal sama host aku ini selama 2 malam, totalnya 3 hari 2 malam. Mudah2an hostnya baik.. aku baru ini ketemu langsung dengan orangnya. Dia kebetulan pernah ke Indonesia beberapa kali.. ini juga alas an aku kenapa aku milih tinggal dan percaya sama dia (gak ada comment negative soal dia, terutama dari cewek2).

Setelah nunggu satu jam.. tas aku belum nongol juga….Waktu dah mulai panik aku liat lagi tas aku nongol huahuahau… ada juga akhirnya. Setelah puas narsis2 sekitar airport aku jalan mengikuti petunjuk arah “METRO” to city train.

RER sign at Charles de Gaulle

Di Paris ada 2 sistem kereta api, METRO dan RER. Kalau RER kereta untuk perjalanan yang rada jauh (linenya melingkar dari luar kota paris sampe ke dalam). Sedangkan Metro untuk di dalam kota dengan jarak yang deketan (dalam radius 1 kilometer).

Stasiun kereta ada satu lantai di bawah bagian kedatangan. Dan sebelum lift ada counter bagian informasi jadi aku sempati Tanya mbak2 di sana soal metro yang bakalan aku pilih. Sebab aku pernah baca Metro Perancis itu yang paring ruwet sedunia!! Gak tau gara2 terlalu sophisticated atau gara2 apa jadi kalau udah salah jurusan bisa wasting time sama money banget deh!

Udah ngantri di lift tiba2 mbak2 di bagian informasi dah nyetopin rombongan gue bilang kereta tutup (errh terjemahan aku dari bahasa perancis dia) lhaa.. kan baru siang kenapa tutup coba??

Aku coba Tanya kiri kanan makin banyak penumpang yang numpuk di pintu lift.. lhaa ada apa ini?? Setelah 1 jam aku Tanya sana sini ternyata ada demo di kota yang buat stasiun di tutup.

Errhhhh… apa udah saatnya buat back up plan sekarang?

Aku balik lagi Tanya ke bagian informasi yang jauuuhhh lebih rame dari sekarang. Aku janjian sama host aku jam 7 malam waktu Perancis jadi masih ada banyak waktu. Aku udah kirim sms dengan kartu As ku yang sekali lagi Berjaya di Paris! (hidup telkomsel!!) oh ya.. biaya per 1 sms?? RP 4000,-/sms!!!!!

Aku bilang delay, ketinggalan pesawat, dan sekarang demo.. huaaaahhhh.. serunyaa!! TT.TTv

Setelah beberapa saat kita ngantri dan udah mulai sesak rasanya gara2 rame… sebagian yang ngantri dah milih naik bus.. sebenarnya aku juga niat naik bus.. tapi aku milih kereta aja deh.. yang pasti di mana berhentinya!!

Stasiun bus-Gare routiere ada di terminal 3 juga jadi ikutin aja arah yang nunjukin arah stasiun RER

Di lantai bawah, ada petunjuk lagi buat naik kereta antar terminal CDG, jadi ya udah aku naik aja dari tempat aku T2/Terminal 2 ke T3/Terminal 3. Sekali lagi… lebih nyaman di Singapore… kereta yang ini lebih kecil dan lebih empet2an dengan penumpang lain…

Didalam kereta di depan aku mana ada pasangan yang bikin gerah.. huhuh keknya mau/habis berangkat kemana gitu jadi keknya melepas rindu banget huhu.. sirik dot com.

Anyway.. aku suka juga betapa expressive manusia2 di sini gak malu2, tapi yang lain juga keknya gak keberatan dengan mereka.. aku jadi sumringah sendiri.

Sampe di stasiun Metro semua pada buru2 ngantri di mesin karcis.. huhuh mampus kuadrat.. gemana pula ini! Aku gak tau KK aku bisa di pake apa ngga… malu bo kalo decline… aku liat uang yang di terima itu uang koin..huhu..aneh banget dah!!

My carnet ticket from CDG to City....

Setelah agak sepi aku baru deketin salah satu mesin dan liat ada pilihan bahasa. Langsung rubah bahasa inggris… aku denger2 banyak banget kartu kredit yang di tolak sama mesin ini, terutama turis2 dari USA... komat kamit baca doa sakti mudah2an KK BCA aku gak di decline huhuhu… demi tiket ONE WAY seharga 8.70 Euro bo! (Rp 113.000,-).

Pencet sana dan sini… puter2 roda mouse....dan menunggu moment yang menegangkan… terdengar suara mesin print dan tiket yang di jatuh kan dan bukti transaksi.. cihuyyyy…. Berhasil!

Oh ya untuk yang beli tiket harian atau paket untuk ke aiport kereta berbeda, dan haru beli tiket sendiri/gak termasuk yang dalam paket mingguan atau 3 harian itu. Sebab tiket itu hanya untuk di zona dalam kota.

Kereta di Paris terbagi dalam beberapa zona loh…. Untuk zona 1-4 itu termasuk wilayah dalam kota kalo gak salah… jadi masih bika pake tiket terusan atau yang paket tapi berhubung CDG letaknya jauh di luar kota kita harus beli lagi deh tiket yang bentuknya sama persis sama “carnet” tapi ada tulisannya kok CDG hehe

Dapat tiket langsung di “validasi” di mesin yang mirip sama di Singapore, jangan lupa ambil lagi tiketnya ya.. tiket masuk dari depan mesin trus keluar lagi di bagian atas… nanti kalau di kereta mendadak dangdut ada yang periksa dan kamu gak punya tiket, dengar2 dendanya 40 Euro… lumayan bikin jatuh miskin mendadak!! (udah miskin bertambah pula derita awak….emaakkk!)

Turun ke stasiun peron kereta.. uhhhh…yang bener aja.. bau pesing bo! gelap pula.. kek mana ini kalo malam..serem....Yah… ini lah beda Perancis/Eropa sama Singapore lagi… disini kek nya bau pesing rada normal… amit2 dah…

Gak berapa lama kereta dating, dan aku pertama bingung cara naiknya… berhubung yang di Bangkok dan Singapore sama di Hongkong pintunya otomatis aku jadi diam berdiri kek patung nunggu pintu kebuka.. ternyataaa.. gak otomatis sodara2!!! Perlu di tarik kedua gagangnya baru bisa kebuka… haduuuhh… jadi malu huahuahha…

Naik di kereta, aku langsung pilih tempat duduk yang paling belakang yang kosong… keretanya juga biasa aja.. kek kereta di Jakarta.. kelas ekonomi yang banyak graffitinya…

Pemandangan di luar kereta juga ngeliatin daerah sub urbs Paris yang kumuh, ada rumah lucu2 ada bengkel… kek Indonesia tapi dengan bentuk rumah, vegetasi/pohon dan bunga yang beda… pokoknya semua beda….

Sinar matahari terik banget Cuma udaranya sejuk banget, aku liat di airport, suhu udara sekitar 18 derajat selsius, dan orang Paris senang banget sama cuaca kek gini!!

Menurut petunjuk dari Guillaume, aku mesti turun di stasiun Port Royale setelah stasiun Luxembourg (Line biru B2 atau B4). Masih jauh banget….dan aku gak perlu ganti kereta dari CDG.. alhamdulillhah…

Di Gare du Nord penumpang banyak yang naik… aku jadi bisa liat beraneka ragam manusia… semua ada kelebihan dan kekurangan… and I had the chance to see all of this.. I am a very lucky girl… aku tersenyum sendiri dengan renungan ini…

Di stasiun Port Royale aku turun dengan tas ungu yang gede… naik ke jalan… hummm… aku jadi hilang orientasi… mana arah barat dan timur ya? Gak ada pilihan lain aku Tanya tante2 yang lagi ngerokok di luar stasiun.. dia nunjukin satu arah ya udah aku jalan… gak berapa jauh aku di setopin sama cewek muda, dia bilang aku Tanya apa sama ibu2 itu? Aku bilang aku nyari Hotel tempat teman aku kerja Namanya Hotel Ville Luxembourg, dia bilang oh, arahnya malah kebalikan… haahhh? Trus dia bilang hati2 sama orang gitu nanti aku malah tambah di buat nyasar.. haduuhhh… aneh deh…

Aku baloik arah dan melewati stasiun, dan si tante masih di sana, dia naikin bahu, nanya ada apa, aku bilang wrong dengan tanda silang, dia Cuma angkat bahu lagi sambil mencibir… lhaaa…

Yah sutralah… aku gak mau bête di Negara orang.. jalan dan lihat hotel itu aku langsung titip tas aku… si Guillaume belum datang, jadi aku titip tas dan langsung ngacir keluar… sebelumnya temannya kasih tau soal satu stasiun kereta yang lebih….dekat, tapi ini RER jadi beda system sama METRO, namanya stasiun Vavin, di jalan yang sama “Blvd de Port Royal”.

Louvre & my "Monalisa" smile!

Dari sini bakalan aku lanjutin ke Part 2 ya......