Silly Things I Did When Traveling

Attention: Contains of dumb things, not to be followed.

Macao, Macao

Solo Traveling

Arrived in Macao airport safe and sound, after cleared immigration I supposed to find exit, people turn left to take their baggage, because I didn’t have baggage, so I turn right (Assuming the exit was there). But then I was totally wrong, 2 officers came to me and asked me some questions, then took me to their office. Interrogated and asked to sign a paper which I wasn’t really sure what’s on it. They also took all out my backpack. I told them I have nothing inappropriate and yes I was taken the wrong turn. Then they released me after all that. #phew

n  Lesson: DO NOT ASSUME

Yangon, Myanmar

Traveling with a Friend

We went to Shwedagon pagoda and found that the entrance fee is really high (for us), around $8 or Rp100,000. We and our new friend from the guesthouse planned to come again the other day in early morning with different entrance. That day around at 6am (niat banget ini mah) we left the guesthouse to the pagoda by bus. This 2^nd attempt took back way of the pagoda, passed housing area, dogs barked at us but good that they didn’t chase us. Finally, entrance! But it wasn’t totally succeed, only one of us could pass the entrance free, then two of us stayed outside.

n  Lesson: DON’T BE CHEAP AND CHEAT!

Seoul, South Korea

Solo Traveling

Arrived in Seoul in the afternoon, after hotel checked in, I right away went to a language school to get a free Korean lesson. Took a bus from in front of the hotel and get off right in front of the school. After the lesson finish, it’s already 7pm and I decided to walk back to the hotel, because I assumed it’s only couple blocks away. Walked for an hour but didn’t find the hotel. It’s dark already and I was tired. Asked some people how to get to my hotel but most of them didn’t speak English and once I found one who speaks English, they didn’t know the address (I brought hotel name card). Walked and walked again not knowing the right way, at that time I didn’t have internet connection so couldn’t google it nor open a map. Felt like give up, I stopped in front of police office and I got in to ask the way to the hotel. They said it’s really far, can’t walk. I insisted it’s only few blocks away, cos I thought so. They suggested to take taxi. I went out from the police office and kept insisted that it’s only a few blocks away and didn’t want to spend money for taxi. An officer came to me and offered me a ride, with police car but without the uwiw uwiw sound. In the car they asked for my data like name, nationality, age, phone number, etc. Felt like a suspect, but I don’t care as long as I arrive at the hotel safely.

n  Lesson: DO NOT ASSUME as well

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Traveling with a Friend

We went to Chu chi tunnel by bus from nearby terminal. When arrived, we got a new local friend. I didn’t remember how but he bought us tickets with local fare (local and tourist fare is really big different), my friend and I was really happy cos we only have to spend maybe 10% of tourist fare. It’s like an outdoor museum, where the Vietnam War was. When we passed the 2^nd gate, we didn’t speak at all cos we pretended to be Vietnamese, our faces are similar with Vietnamese but we can’t speak the language. Et voila! We passed!, not far after the gate they assigned a guide for us, cos we all have local ticket so they assigned a guide with local language. We couldn’t argue more cos they’re right. Until the end of the tour, the guide kept speaks in Vietnamese that we didn’t understand.

n  Lesson: DON’T BE CHEAP!

Scary Hotel Experiences

Story 1 – Casablanca, Morocco

I had a really adventurous trip back then in Morocco. I was travelling solo at that time, and had hosts in some cities like in Casablanca, Mohammedia and Fez. When I came back to Casablanca as my final trip I decided to book a hotel room, cause I don’t want to bother my host more. I booked a room one day before, while I was in Marrakech, I chose the one nearby the train station in Casablanca. It was a nice little hostel and the staffs were also very nice –at that time. They gave me a room on the 2^nd floor, the last room of the corridor. It’s a very quiet hotel, seems nobody there, and I thought “Oh well, maybe they were still in town”. It was around 7pm when I checked in, so I went directly to my room and got some rest. Around midnight I got up cause I heard a weird creepy sound in the corridor, then I convinced myself that it’s nothing. I tried to go back to sleep, when I was half asleep, I heard that voice again, I lost my patience then I called the receptionist and asked them what the hell is happening? and also asked them to check the corridor. Not long after, someone knocked my door and called, “Excuse me Madam!”. He’s the hostel staff. He said nothing happened, all is fine. I couldn’t argue more because I have nothing to proof.

First room before move, the creepy one

I tried really hard to go back to sleep. The thing went on again, but this time creepier. I saw something white crawling to my bed and you know what I did? I was as calm as a monk, I screamed quietly and soundless inside then turned on the lights and read Al Fatihah, Al Ikhlas and other surahs that I know and kept awake. I fell asleep when the prayer calling was started.

In the morning, I called the receptionist again to get other room and voila he granted it right away. He gave me a room on the 1^st Floor and the other night it was just fine. No more creepy sound. I checked out on the third day and said to myself, never again come back to this hostel.

Story 2 – Cirebon, Indonesia

This time I wasn’t travel alone, but with my 2 friends, we went to Cirebon without any plans at all. We didn’t have tickets and hotel booking yet and it was a long holiday which you all know, it will be a little adventurous. Long story short after struggled to get in Cirebon without ticket, we finally made it. Arrived in the afternoon and tried to find place to stay. The becak (pedicab) driver helped us to find one and we found an almost perfect one. Great location nearby train station (again), clean, quiet and CHEAP. It’s only 90,000 rupiah per night for 3 persons. The room is spacious for that kinda price and it’s also with private bathroom. We felt lucky and happy.

In the evening after we’re back from exploring the town, we got some rest. The bed arrangement is a little weird. 3 single beds, 1 on the right corner, 1 on the left corner separated for about 1 meter, then the other 1 bed is on the corner next to the door, that’s my bed.

It was a fine night – well at least until something creepy happened. In my sleep, I was awake and couldn’t move at all, I screamed calling my friends, but they didn’t hear me, I tried louder but no voice came out. I read some surahs like Al- Fatihah and all that I know, then it worked, I fell half asleep but then someone dressed in white with long hair and no face stood near my bed. This time I really screamed –with voice of course–  and my friends shocked and asked me what was happened.

I told them all what happened and I moved to my friend’s bed, then fell asleep after the prayer calling.

Story 3 – Trivandrum, India

I travelled with 1 friend to explore 3 cities Kochi, Trivandrum and Tirrucirapally (or Trichy). We took train from Kochi to Trivandrum scheduled to arrive midnight. We didn’t have hotel booking yet there – yeah we’re 2 insane women, When we arrived, I googled hostel nearby train station (again), then found a decent one. We took tuktuk (sound funny) to get there. It is in a small alley but fine hostel, they gave us a room on the 4^th floor. My friend asked me to check the room first before confirming to take it. She stayed in the lobby to watch our belongings and I followed the hostel staff to 4^th floor with dim light stairs. I felt creep, but already half way through. Finally on the 4^th floor, I checked to room was ok and clean. We’re back to lobby and told my friend I like it but the stairs kinda creepy and it’s too far, I mean 4^th floor without elevator is tiring. We asked for other room on the 1^st floor, and yes they have but much more expensive. The room is just around 7 meters away from the front desk. We’re agreed.

Image from Google - more or less stairs like this but dimmer.

I took a bath then prayed isha alone in the room cos my friend went to the front desk to ask wifi password and all that. I felt something staring at me when I prayed. I finished it fast.

Long story short, in the midnight I was so shocked cos my friend screamed out on her sleep. I woke her up and asked what happened to her. She got nightmare about the hostel, she found that there is a cemetery area nearby the hostel in her dream and something creepy made her scream. We both couldn’t sleep at that night, we kept talking and talking about something else to distract our fear.

In the morning we checked out and looked for other hostel.

From those 3 horror stories, I have no idea why those all nearby train station.