My First Solo Travel in Europe!

I never thought that this journey would be this amazing, until I call it as a 'Journey with full of lessons'. Not a really long time, but full with surprising moments and inspiring people.

Let the story begin. Supposed to go in October 2008, worked so hard to make a Schengen Visa by the Italy Embassy, but then got my visa rejected.
Sad but, that's the reality..

Lesson 1 : ''Wish for the best and plan for the worst''

Time passes by till 2009 came, still got my little heart whispering "Go to Europe this year...". Letting things happen unplanned, still working hard making money, several parttime jobs, teaching or even photoshots, till finally got an idea to make an EU visa together with Amri, a super smart and multi talented friend of mine. He also had to attend a Harvard University event in New York then flew with me to Europe. And finally, I got my first Schengen Visa! (Oh thankyou so much Amri, Tante Vivi, and Om Albert for this).

Lesson 2 : "Sometimes it's good not to plan the whole thing, let things happen and wait for the surprises!"

Even finally got my visa, the story wasn't going as smooth as I thought before. I had to face with just a lot of problems, from my university schedule, permission, and especially with my own money, haha! Having told you all of these, I ended up going to Europe alone and not with Amri because of many reasons.

Behind all of that, things were become more clear, that I actually forced to experience this Europe Journey just by myself. After read a book called 'Ciao Italia!', I then found this interesting travel website that are allow me to meet another open minded and free spirited people, with the same interest for sure, travel around the world! Started from there, beside meeting my friends, I always met with amazing, inspiring, alive, full of spirit peope, learnt many nice things and experience moments with more excitement!

Check out www.couchsurfing.org/wimzz for you who would like to experience it as well :)

The story started here. I was going around Jakarta by a public transportation, seing little things that remind us how beautiful this world is, little things that make us happy, make us feel grateful, till then I met this guy, Fadli, who works for a travel agent as a service staff. We had a little talk in 'angkot', changed phone number and voilà! I had a cheapest flight from the company he works for to Holland! Just another example how unimportant person you thought about could help a lot.

Lesson 4 : "Sometimes you get the best lesson from a very random person, never judge people"

These are 2 bags that I carry to Europe, no more than I usually bring to Bali for the weekend :p

I experienced silly things when I was still in Jakarta Airport Soekarno Hatta. Instead of queing in Malaysian Airline, I stood up in a KLM row for hours, then got a wrong row! Silly me and had to re-quee for another check-in row.

After 2 hours flight with Malaysian Airline, changed plane in Kuala Lumpur, browsed Internet a bit with a super fast wifi connection, then jumped to KLM to fly directly to Amsterdam! Put just many snacks and wine I got in plane for my meals in Europe (students do this, right?) then after 14 hours flight finally arrived in Schipol Airport. Put my bags in the baggage storage then took a metro to Amsterdam Centraal, hoped to get a wifi connection somewhere in a coffeeshop.

Another silence in Amsterdam when I was around tried looking for any coffeeshop with wifi connection, was freezing to death facing a minus 2 degrees celcius!

Met Tante Vivi and her friend, went around Almere, cooked together at her home, saw her video clip on YouTube and oh gosh, such a sexy singer she was! Talking much about life in Holland and in general, having a very good time together, checked my mail and oh I realized that I have to meet Marco in Amsterdam! Time to jump back there..

Took a walk around Amsterdam with Marco, I told him already that he's one of my friends that has a very good communication! Send him an SMS or email, and he'll reply immediately..

Walked around and having a great chat, he's the person who knows how to enjoy this life without having to plan the whole things! Good lessons. Another corner of Amsterdam that I would never seen if I weren't with him! We then ended up with a glass of beer. Thanks Marco for your little time, have a nice time with your girl in Prague! :)

While I was waiting for Nova who finished her work at 5 pm, I met Dave in front of Sex Museum, silly chat, took several shots then had a nice dinner at one of the Mexican Restaurant. Went to Dave's home to do a Reiki Meditation, then Dave dropped me off at Nova's home in Arnhem

Having a relaxing tea after 20 hours nonstop flight..

Spent a night at nova's then a little time around! Nova is a good friend of mine while we were in high school, I always adore her for straight-away kind of talk that she has. Very cheerful indeed!

I flew to Italy at the other day, with the big of hope and.. voila! Things are totally different. I call it the 5 turning days in my life, the most unforgettable days while I was in Europe.

I used to be a person who always aim for material things and so on, till I got all of that in Italy. But you won't believe , it's like god showed all of them to you, and trust me that having all of the glamorous material things in your life is not everything. Big house, expensive cars, nice suites, corner of the earth places of holiday, happening parties, count on them, count and imagine that you're surrounded by all of those things but what you feel is just an emptiness. Way too empty until you can't feel how sweet the sugar is, how delicate the ice cream tastes, how warm the sun is, how lovely the puppies are, how soulful it is to speak even with poorest person.. It's true and happen still with a lot of people here..

Beside all of that, I enjoyed my time in Italy fully with my inside spirit, thinking more carefully what I really want and seek for in this life. It's totally nothing with the material things. What I want is clearly to enjoy this life fully, love your loved ones, do things with passionate and to feel the happiness!

Lesson 5 : "Interesting people are the one who excited with what they do. Do things with passionate and do it than others!"

Another freezy day in Italy

One of great parties one night in Rome. The crowd was just crazy! :D

Around Rome together with Ayako and friends. Fresh from Tokyo!

Carlo came when I had a big trouble in Rome. All started from Piazza Trilussa, then we had a funny dinner at Freni e Frezioni, talked about this beautiful life, he's the one who you MUST SEE in Rome! Had a crazy party in a Brazilian Club, shop and cooked together with his friends, saw a beautiful lake up in the highland of Rome, another dinner at another crazy young place!

I was walking alone along this street to get to the nearest metro station, then a nice man offered me to drop me off there. He looked like 60 something himself, and even worse, couldn't speak English at all! So we ended up like 2 stupid monkeys talking with full of body language, and the last part was, he asked for a kiss! "Un baccio" he said. Whaaaaaaaat?? I screamed in my heart. "Non ci bacio in Indonesia" I replied, refused politely and explain that we don't kiss in Indonesia. "Ma sei in Italia adesso" he kept trying, said that we're not in Indonesia, but in Italy. Oh GOSH. After while of this kiss bussiness, then I finally I escaped from his car. Thank God :D

Another art in Carlo Palmisano's gallery.. Wish we could spent more time together.. To share how beautiful sun and beaches are.. To share how happy life will be without being arrogant.. To share how we never scared of death because we saw the happiness in this world! :)))

Met one of an earring seller in Rome, helped him out with stuffs then he gave me one of beautiful earrings! How sweet.. :pp
Time to fly back to Amsterdam, then off to Paris! Oh I never thought that I would love Holland this much, till when I was just arrived Schipol I met this nearly 50 year old man, we've got very much in common, he talked much about his daughter which is the same age as me, very wise and, guess what? We talked in Italian and he was born at the 1st of January, same as me :) Giancarlo his name, and hope that we would meet again somewhere in this world.

Tony and Mustafa another kind people I met when I was in Europe. I was freezing till death, got my phone out of battery, and really need to call, but then they let me to charge my phone in the toilet where they work and even made me a hot cup of coffee :)

We surely had an incredible times, as well with his Italian friend, Natalie, as we shop and cooked together! He's the one that you absolutely will fall in love because of his peaceful! No matter girl or boy you are, haha! :pp

Having a crazy time in Utrecht together. Got a good news that Dave is coming to Jakarta from May 22nd to June 1st! Learnt many nice things from him.. He's the one who thaught to enjoy your time fully wherever you are, whoever you are with..

Lesson 6 : "We are all one and all are connected. We are the reflection of each other.."
Time to say good bye to Holland, heading to Paris right away.. As people said that you will most probably meet the arrogance of French, I couldn't really agree about it, having a very nice French guy helped me out with my luggage storage. Enzo his name, he even waited for my late and promise me to take me around Paris next time I hit there. A bit curious, I then asked him "Are you originally French?" then he replied "Actually my parents are Italian". Oh that's why! Haha..
Heading to Paris from Charles de Gaule.. Met an American guy called Jude. It was all silly stories back then, the point is, we spent nice time together and it was all started with me rapping an old song in front of him! Haha!

Back to Amsterdam then off to Kuala Lumpur then Jakarta. Too much to tell all of the stories, ended with a little letter to my dad..

"Dear My Lovely Dad.."

Thank you very much for your support for my trip. It wasn't an ordinary trip, it was a journey with full of lessons.. You know I wouldn't waste such much amount travel just to visit or taking pictures like everyone does. I wanted every single second that I past became full of learning experiences. And so it was.

I spent my times meeting many positive people. Brilliant and inspiring ones, learnt many positive things, see how life's going on in Europe, see how poeple spend their time and enjoy their life, see the world, and I will tell you the most beautiful story ever..

I'm very sorry I didn't track in a good communication while I was there. Too many things happenned in the same time. But the most important thing is, always have you and your wise advices in my heart every steps I go..

Will keep you posted from now on. States become my next destination to be. Don't stop to teach me positive things, don't stop to remind me. Don't stop to share thoughts with me. And don't stop to love me...

With Love,

Daughter