Amsterdam view from Amsterdam Tower

Amsterdam view from Amsterdam Tower
The view from Amsterdam Tower

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Le French May - La Grosse Couture



La Grosse Couture - Le French May at K11 Art Mall

The festival has just started! As its name, it is held in May with many programs being held all around Hong Kong and Macau till end of June 2014.

When it comes to festival, Hong Kong has plenty to offer….

La Grosse Couture - Le French May at K11 Art Mall
 
Saturday afternoon, even though there was yellow thunderstorm warning signal, we decided to march to Tsim Sha Tsui to watch French marching band in K11 Art Mall.

La Grosse Couture - Le French May at K11 Art Mall
 
La Grosse Couture was founded in Lyon in 1995, they are known and often invited to festivals.

Dressed up in nice costume, they played songs passionately… Their performance was at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. I watched the 4pm performance, it was good! Fun! However it was too short… but they were nice and gave chances to audience to take pics together…

La Grosse Couture - Le French May at K11 Art Mall
 
 
What I like about going to cultural art festivals, I get to see the culture of a country without having to travel far and spending money. Festival to me is a way to peep other people’s country through my own window…

La Grosse Couture - Le French May at K11 Art Mall
 
 
About this festival, “Le French May” offers many types of events: exhibitions, performances to cinema and gastronomy. Some of the events is open for public, just check the official website and find out their detailed program: http://www.frenchmay.com/en


La Grosse Couture - Le French May at K11 Art Mall
 

 

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Penerbangan Langsung (Direct Flight Schedule) Hong Kong – Jakarta

(Tulisan versi Bahasa Indonesia tersedia di bawah, Indonesian version is available – just scroll down)

Tram as public transportation in Hong Kong

I just thought I have to share information about the available direct flight from Hong Kong to Jakarta (my home town) and vice versa.

Basically there are three airlines operating direct flight from Hong Kong to Jakarta. One has just suspended its direct flight in April 2014 http://www.tigerair.com/id/en/disruption.php?alert=ri_flight_resched

Depending on some factors, not to mention the high/low season, we may get cheaper fare. I did random check that flying from Hong Kong to Jakarta, it is cheaper flying Cathay Pacific (CX) comparing to Garuda Indonesia (GA). Perhaps it is because CX has more flights. China Airlines (CI) is offering cheaper fare for the same route. Of course, each has its own terms and conditions depending on our need.

As reference, let’s check on their schedules (alphabetical order). You may refer to their official websites for confirmation.


Cathay Pacific (CX)

As an example, CX has three schedules from Hong Kong to Jakarta and return daily.


Check this website for more info http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_ID.html

Cathay Pacific has its own frequent flyer program i.e. Marco Polo Club or we can also use Asia Miles.


China Airlines (CI)

Depending on which day, CI has two daily direct flights, please refer to below schedule:


Check their official website for more info https://www.china-airlines.com/en/index.html

China Airlines has its own frequent flyer program, otherwise we can also use SkyTeam to accrue the mileage.


Garuda Indonesia (GA)

Meanwhile, GA has only two daily flights from Hong Kong to Jakarta and return.
 

Check this website for more info https://www.garuda-indonesia.com/hk/en/index.page

As additional information, their Frequent Flyer program, GarudaMiles is now part of the SkyTeam.
 
Happy traveling! Bon voyage!

 
Versi Bahasa Indonesia

Sekedar informasi mengenai penerbangan langsung dari Hong Kong ke Jakarta (kota gue!) dan sebaliknya.

Pada dasarnya ada tiga maskapai penerbangan  yang melayani rute penerbangan langsung ini, sementara satu maskapai baru saja menutup rute tersebut efektif bulan April 2014 lalu http://www.tigerair.com/id/en/disruption.php?alert=ri_flight_resched

Tergantung beberapa factor, bukan saja karena musim liburan atau bukan (high/low season), kita bisa saja dapat harga tiket yang lebih murah. Gue pernah ngecek secara garis besar aja, kalau terbang dari Hong Kong ke Jakarta, lebih murah naik Cathay Pacific (CX) daripada Garuda Indonesia (GA). Demikian juga sebaliknya, dari Jakarta ke Hong Kong, lebih murah naik CX dibanding GA. Mungkin karena CX punya lebih banyak penerbangan. Selain itu, China Airlines juga menawarkan harga tiket yang lebih murah dibanding kedua maskapai diatas. Tentu saja setiap penawaran punya persyaratan masing-masing.
 
Sebagai referensi, cekidot maskapai2 apa saja (berdasarkan alphabet). Silakan merujuk ke website resmi mereka untuk konfirmasi.

 
Cathay Pacific (CX)

CX punya tiga penerbangan langsung setiap harinya, dari Hong ke Jakarta dan sebaliknya.


Silakan klik website resmi mereka di http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_ID.html

Mengenai program frequent flyer program, CX punya program Marco Polo Club dan mereka juga merupakan bagian dari Asia Miles.
 

China Airlines (CI)

Tergantung hari, CI memiliki dua penerbangan langsung, lihat jadwal dibawah ini:
 
 
Untuk lengkapnya, klik website mereka https://www.china-airlines.com/en/index.html

China Airlines memiliki program frequent flyer, selain itu mereka juga bagian dari SkyTeam.

 
Garuda Indonesia

GA mengoperasikan penerbangan langsung sebanyak dua kali setiap hari (pulang pergi).
 
 
Klik website resmi mereka di https://www.garuda-indonesia.com/hk/en/index.page

Sebagai informasi tambahan, program Frequent Flyer GarudaMiles sekarang sudah merupakan bagian dari program SkyTeam.

Selamat jalan2...!!
 
Kalau sudah sampai Hong Kong, naik Tram ya...
 

Macau


Macau is not only about casino as what people thinks as first impression.
 
 
It is only an hour away from Hong Kong. Just take the ferry, its schedule is very convenient and affordable. You may refer to Cotaijet and Turbojet

Grand Lisboa Casino

Alternatively, we can also go to Macau with plane or helicopter.

Lisboa Casino

My last visit to Macau early this year was a refreshing of my first visit in 1995 (if I am not mistaken).
 
Rickshaw nearby Lisboa Casino
 
No worries about transportation in Macau, free shuttle bus is available from/to ferry terminal to casinos/hotels.
 
 
Arriving at Macau Taipa ferry terminal, I took shuttle bus of Grand Lisboa casino. It was only 15 minute ride.

Senado Square

Destination? Senado Square and of course the Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral!

Senado Square

Just walk out of Grand Lisboa casino, turn right and go along the street for around 15 minutes. Most people walk in that area is going there anyway… then you will see Senado Square on the right side.

Senado Square

The area is just a mini Europe in China.

St. Domingo's Church, Senado Square

Buildings there are beautiful. One of them is the tourist information center where I went there to get Macau map for free.

Inside St. Domingo's Church
Senado Square

Once we are in Senado Square, there are more signs to find the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Walking there is interesting, small European type of street. Climbing up to the top may not be smooth especially on the weekend as there are tourists busy looking at shops on both sides. But it is worth the efforts, anyway it is not a long way up there.

Busy street on the weekend
going to Ruins of St. Paul's

Shop selling food, on the way
to Ruins of St. Paul's

Shop, on the way to Ruins of St. Paul's

Tourists who is rushing going to Macau, for the sake of ticking the box, will only take pics in front of the Ruins. However, this World Heritage Site has more interesting to see.

Ruins of St. Paul's from far

Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral

Just go up and visit the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, they are built at the bottom of the Ruins of the Cathedral.

Closer look to the gate of the Ruins of St. Paul's


Reading the history of the Ruins of St. Paul's

The history of the Ruins of St. Paul's

Then, when I was at the top of the Ruins, I could see the beautiful view of city below.

The back of the Ruins of St. Paul's

Hello Macau! View taken from the top of Ruins of St. Paul's