7 Places that You Have to Visited in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the one city in Southeast Asia which become the favorite for tourist to be visited.With condition of the city that provide any kind of facilities and easiness that support tourism activity. The one which become the prime done from Kuala Lumpur is Petronas Twin Towers. Petronas twin towers was the tallest skyscrapers in the world (era 1998-2004).

There are several things that you have to do and you have to be visited when you are in Kuala Lumpur. Here the author would tell you, several interesting places that you need to be visited. Before we talking about the places that you need to be visited, I will tell you something about the Malaysia tourism. Malaysia now is the favourite destination from tourist. There are several factors that make Malaysia getting better in tourism, but the important factor is Malaysia has the popular low cost airline that Malaysia become their hub. Every long distance flight, have to be transit  in Malaysia (KLIA). That is the one factors. Want or not people that take that flight, they have to visit the Kuala lumpur. 

Well this is it, Places that you have to be visited in Kuala Lumpur. Those are:

1. Petronas Twin Towers 

Petronas Twin Towers is the icon of Kuala Lumpur even Malaysia. People have a term, if you comes to Malaysia but didn't took picture in front of twin towers means you are not comes to Malaysia. Therefore, taking a picture in front of the twin towers is the obligation for tourist that comes to twin towers. Find the Twin Towers is not hard, it's easier to find, you can achieve by MRT or the other public trasportation. All the public transportation through the twin towers. Then, the twin towers is used as the business complex and office. On the lower ground we can found mall, with the name Suria KLCC. If you want to go upside to the top of building you can take a tour. There are several package that offer to enjoy Kuala Lumpur from the top of building. 

2. Pasar Seni/Central Market

Pasar Seni or Central Market, this is the important thing for tourist. you can buy the merchendise of Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia that you can brought to your origin country. There are a lot of stuff that very iconic, and show the Malaysia. To achieve the Pasar Seni you can take the LRT and down in Pasar Seni/ Masjid Jamek station. 

3. KL Tower

Kuala Lumpur Tower is different with Petronas Twin Towers. Basically this towers build to communication purpose. Kuala Lumpur located in the city of Kuala Lumpur, not to hard to achieve KL Tower, you can use the public transportation in there. Now, beside used as the tower communication KL Tower also being the tourist destination. You can enjoy museum, restaurant and so on. 

4. Kuala Lumpur City Gallery 

Kuala Lumpur City Gallery located in the historical building of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur city gallery is the center of information of the history Kuala Lampur. Beside the information of Kuala Lumpur history here also informed about the future of Kuala Lumpur itself. Beside the gallery, there are several gift soft that you can visited here. There is an iconic statue of Symbol I Love KL here, you may taking picture front of there. This is the one favorite by the tourist 

5. Dataran Merdeka 

Dataran Merdeka located in Jalan Raja, central Kuala Lumpur. This place is very historical place for Malaysian people. In very first time, the union flag of Malaysia was hoisted. Dataran merdeka is located in front of Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

6. Bukit Bintang 

Bukit Bintang is the one place that you have to visited if you are in Kuala Lumpur. Several shopping mall that places in this area. Bukit Bintang is the heaven for shopaholic. Several big mall that exist on that location.

7. China Town 

Beside Bukit Bintang or Central Market there is other place that become the favorite place for tourist, that is the China Town. You can find a lot of seller that offer their goods. Do not worry although in this place the price that offer in high price but you can still negotiate to get the lower price. 

Read More

Saigon Trip : Places That You Need to be Visited in Ho Chi Minh City

Actually this trip happened in 2013. At that time I joined the program in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh city was a capital city of Vietnam in the past but currently the capital city of Vietnam has been move to Hanoi. The name of Ho Chi Minh city taken from the Vietnam hero, former of Prime Minister and President of Republic Democratic Vietnam. 

Well this trip is taken around 5 days in there but I was not spend my time all for holiday I need joined with the program. Perhaps this is not pure holiday but it's look likes "holiday during program". I arrived in Tan Son Nhat International Airport on the night. After finish with the baggage, and my luggage already taken, I directly went to the motel, near with the place of my program. My Motel located around Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh. With this post I would like to suggest several place in Saigan that you have to visit if you comes to ho Chi Minh/Saigon. 

1. Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City

 

Me in Front of Independence Palace

Independence Palace or known as reunification palace, when the era of colonialism was used as the head quarter of French colonialism in Vietnam. If we go to Ho Chi Minh easier to found the building with French style. Influence of French style in Ho Chi Minh still exist until now. For now Independence palace being the museum, a lot of historical witness history there. When we take a tour in this place we will guided by guide that will explain everything about this place.

2. Notre-Dame Cathedral Basicila of Saigon 

Me in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basicila of Saigon

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basicila of Saigon also the famous one of the tourism place in Ho Chi Minh. this place being the tourist attraction because this building build in the French style. Until now this place still operated as the Church. In front of the church there is virgin Mary statue. The park in front of that place, always uses to pre- wedding place because the place is so romantic, with green field and romantic flowers.

3. Saigon Central Post Office 

Me In front of Saigon central post office

Near with Cathedral we can go to Saigon central post office. This place know still exist as the post office and museum.This place was constructed when the era of French joined with Indochina. The architecture style of this place is French style. So, not surprisingly when we are in Ho Chi Minh feel in France.

4. Ho Chi Minh Hall 

Image source: wikipedia.com

Actually this place is now open to public, but in front of this place we can enjoy for taking a picture or something, because this place is very nice. Better we go in the night day, because we weill enjoy the atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City in the night. 

5. Diamon Plaza 

Diamon Plaza is the shopping center in Ho Chi Minh city. The location is not too far, we can achive by bus, taxi even by foot. Because this place is across Notre-Dame Cathedral Basicila of Saigon. We can take shopping, watching movie and so on. 

6. Bitexco Financial Tower 

Bitexco Financial Tower is the third tallest  skyscraper in Vietnam. This tower owned by the Vietnamese company, Bitexco group. This place located in district 1, Ho Chi Minh city. Inside the tower we can eat in restaurant, enjoy the bar or even we can enjoy the panorama city landscape of Ho Chi Minh. But in we want see the best view better we go in the night. 

7. Ben Thanh Market 

Maybe this is the important place for any traveller, this is Ben Than Market. We can take shopping buy the souvenir from Ho Chi Minh. A lot of seller offer their goods here. The price that offer by the sometime very high but do not worry we can make a bid with them, we can negotiate so that we can get the lowest price. 

Read More

Days in Langkawi Island, Malaysia

Okay good morning every body, now I would like to tell you about the tourism place in Malaysia that become the favorite place for domestic and international tourist. Actually I went to Langkawi island when I was in mid term break on 2014. At that time I went to Langkawi to got some fresh holiday, to refresh my brain after the study time. Well know I will tell to you my experience in Langkawi.

Langkawi is the one island in Malaysia which located in Melaca straits. As the administrative Langkawi island is belong to Kedah state. Langkawi island from the Kedah is aroud 51 KM. Several kind of transportation that offer if we want to go to Langkawi island, there are two option that you can take to go to langkawi by Airplane or by ferry ship. If we does not have a lot of budget to langkawi we can go by ship but when we have enough money we can go by airplane.

For me I went to Langkawi island by ferry ship, because at that time I studied in UUM and UUM already located in Kedah state, only took 2 hours to Langkawi. Started my journey from UUM I took the taxi until Kuala Perlis port. From UUM to Kuala Perlis took around 45 minutes. Kuala Perlis is the sea port that serve regularly for crossing to Langkawi island. There are ship to langkawi that serve from this port in every hours. Beside from this port, there are another port that serve the cruise to Langkawi, from Kuala Kedah port and Penang port.

When we are arrived in Langkawi, we shocked with the best natural scenery. Blue sea, green island, birds fly around uhhh it's very nice island. From langkawi port we rent car to mobility in Langkawi island. Rent car is better than we take a taxi cause is very cheap and more effective for our holiday cost, we can spend our money to visit the tourism place.

In the first day, we find our hotels in Kuah for do check in. Tips for you that want to holiday in Langkawi, if you don't have a lot of money you can find the cheap hotel around Kuah. Yes, Kuah area not in beach are in Langkawi but is just 10 minutes if we want to beach. But the benefit if we stay in Kuah its near to mall, restaurant and port. After check in, we started our journey in Langkawi island. The first place that visited is the sky cab, cable car Langkawi. The Langkawi sky cab is the one tourism place that always attract tourists comes to Langkawi. This place located in north of Telaga Harbour, Pantai Kok. Langkawi cable car known as the steepest cable car in the world, 42 degrees, and distance over 2.2 KM from the base station to mountain stop stations.  From the top stations we could enjoy the panorama of Langkawi island, we could saw the sea. Then he experience when i was in the top of station the weather is very cold. On the top station also there is the restaurant that provide food if we want lunch on the top. The second place after we enjoyed Langkawi cable car, we went to Pantai Kok to enjoy "rojak". Rojak is delicious food, from fruits  mixed with sauce. The taste is very good, very comfortable when we feel stress we have to eat this food. There is famous rojak seller in Pantai Kok, that is Hafiz Rojak. You may find them if you visited Langkawi. After we enjoy Pantai Kok with rojak we decide to back to our hotel in Kuah.

From the top of Sky Cab

Second day in Langkawi, we went to Kilim National Geo park to enjoyed geopark and mangrove tour. Kilim National Geo Park is a nature reserve and a collection of geo-sites full of amazing flora & fauna, and stunning geological formations like mammoth limestone rocks, fossils, caves, lagoons, beaches and seascapes. To achieve the Kilim Geopark we have to take a tour through kilim river, during the experience we could enjoyed the mangrove, a lot of flora and fauna could be found along the river. After we take a tour in geo park we went to langkawi under water world. Langkawi under waer world located in Pantai Cenang. Pantai cenang is the famous one beach in Langkawi. A lot of tourist comes to that beach. If we see pantai cenang is like in Kuta in Indonesia.

Third day in Langkawi. It's time to go back but before we go back to Kedah, we visited one mall/shop that very famous. Because in that mall we can buy a lot of chocolate from over the world as a cheap, because there is no tax. The mall name is Haji Ismail group, Haji Ismail is the favorite place for tourist. Beside chocolate in Haji Ismail =, we also can found goods with good brand with cheap price because there is no tax there. Well, the time to back were comes, we went to sea port and Sayonara Langkawi... 

Read More

Study at Universiti Utara Malaysia : Life Experience

 Universiti Utara Malaysia or Northern University of Malaysia is the public university which located in Kedah, northern of Malaysia.This university located inside of Sintok Forest which has a total land around 1000 hectare. And the interested thing from this university is the location is near the country border between Malaysia and Thailand.

University Utara Malaysia is the best one of management university in Malaysia, it was not suprasingly UUM being the one favorite University in Malaysia. Actually University Utara Malaysia has 18 faculties and divided into three main colleges, are: College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Business (COB), College of Law, Government, and International Studies (COLGIS). A lot of student has been studying in University Utara Malaysia, not only Malaysian but thousand international student study in UUM.

The best experience for me when I could study in university utara Malaysia. As the university which claimed as world university, university Utara Malaysia provide all facilities that supporting the process of learning. Starting from the academic facilities until the entertainment facilities for student, UUM provide all the best thing for the student.

Basically, although UUM is located in the Sintok Forest, not to hard to be achieved. There are several ways for us if want to go to UUM. We could use airplane, bus even train. But I am personally never try go to UUM by train.

• If we go to UUM by airplane we can take from Kuala Lumpur (from KLIA or Subang Airport) or other cities in Malaysia to Alor Setar. Alor Setar is the capital of Kedah state. Several airplane company provide flight to Alor Setar such as Malaysia Airline, Air Asia or FireFly. Then, when we arrieved in Alor Setar airport we can continue our trip to UUM by taxi (around 1 hour to UUM). 
• if we go to UUM by bus we can take from hentian Pudu. There are several bus agency that provide ticket to Kedah. We can buy the ticket around RM 50, it will send us by bus until Changlun. but do not worry several bu, enter until to UUM. So we don't need to stop in Changlun, but we can stop in front of our DPP (dormitory). 

The one place that become my favorite in UUM is the library. UUM's library or known as Sultan Baldishah Library is very comfortable for learning, and the collection of this library is very complete. Library also open 24 hours for reading room and until 10.00 P.M for main library. That is very support the student activity in academic field. Many student spend their time in library. Even in exam week, student will be stay in university until 24 hours for study. It's nice good atmosphere to study.

Like I said in the beginning, UUM campus is very big. UUM look as the private city which has everything inside. Until in UUM they have three route of bus, to mobilize the student from one place to another place. Almost student in UUM uses the public transportation to mobilize their activity, but some time they also rent car or even use kereta sapu (name for taxi). Then thing that make UUM has specialty is all student must stay in UUM. They are not allowed to stay outside UUM. So that's way university can control the quality of the student.

In UUM, I took the program of Bachelor International Affairs Management with Honor. Bachelor International Affairs  is the program under School of International Studies. International Affairs of UUM, is best one in Malaysia. Intaff UUM consisted by qualify lecturer from any background. I have some favorite lecturer when I was in UUM. Mr. Debendra my lecturer from India is the favorite one, although in the beginning I was affraid by him, but after took several meeting class, I enjoyed with him. Until I went to his house to sharing, discussing, and dinner together. The another lecturer who become my favorite is Prof. Abdad. Basically prof. Abdad is ancestry of Indonesia. We always talked about the condition of Indonesia in political and economic side. He very enthusiast when discussing about Indonesia. 

A lot of history in UUM, I really miss with that university now. UUM had teach me a lot, in academic side my knowledge increased. Beside that life in UUM, the international atmosphere is very good because UUM has thousand international student.  

Read More

Polemik Kereta Cepat Jakarta-Bandung

Source image: www.bbc.com

Presiden Joko Widodo meresmikan pembangunan kereta cepat Jakarta-Bandung pada tanggal 21 Januari 2016 kemarin. Kereta Cepat yang diresmikan oleh Presiden pembangunannya akan menghubugkan Jakarta-Bandung. Tentunya hadirnya kereta cepat Jakarta-Bandung akan memperpendek waktu tempuh dari Jakarta menuju Bandung begitu pula sebaliknya. Disamping itu hadirnya kereta cepat Jakarta-Bandung juga memberikan opsi lain kepada masyarakat, yang selama ini untuk menghubugkan Jakarta-Bandung bisa ditempuh oleh beberapa opsi, diantaranya melalui jalur reguler Jakarta-Bandung via Cianjur-Puncak, melalui tol cipularang, menggunakan kereta Api Parahiyangan dan menggunakan transportasi pesawat terbang.

Pembangunan kereta cepat ini dilaksanakan oleh PT. Kereta Cepat Indonesia Cina (KCIC). PT KCIC merupakan perusahaan patungan yang melibatkan beberapa BUMN Indonesia dengan Perusahaan Tiongkok. PT. KCIC akan melaksanakan keseluruhan pembangunan infrastruktur kereta cepat sepanjang 145 KM yang menghubungkan Stasiun di kawasan Halim Perdana Kusuma dengan stasiun di kawasan Tegal Luar Kabupaten Bandung. Ada empat BUMN Indonesia yang terlibat dalam proyek ini, yakni PT. Wijaya Karya Tbk (WIKA), PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), PT Jasa Marga Tbk, dan PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) VIII. Mereka semua dibawah bendera PT Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia (PSBI). Keempat perusahaan BUMN itu menguasi 60% saham PT. Kereta Cepat Indonesia Cina sedang kan 40% saham lainnya dikuasai oleh perusahaan Tiongkok yakni China Railway International (CRI).

Pro dan Kontra muncul dimasyarakat terkait proyek kereta cepat Jakarta-Bandung ini. Beberapa faktor yang membuat polemik muncul ditengah masyarakat. Pertama, Kereta Cepat Jakarta-Bandung ini menelan biaya investasi cukup besar. Biaya pembangunan kereta cepat menelan biaya investasi sebesar US$ 5.5 Milyar atau sekitar 80 Triliyun rupiah. Jumlah yang tidak sedikit, tentu masyarakat bertanya darimana uang tersebut, Berdasarkan informasi yang didapatkan dari pinjaman China Development Bank (CDB) sebesar 75% dari total nilai pembiayaan pembangunan kereta cepat. Sedangkan 25% sisanya didapatkan dari modal PT. Kereta Cepat Indonesia Cina (KCIC).Tentunya masyarakat sangat mengkhawatirkan kondisi seperti ini, walaupun itu merupakan hutang luar negeri swasta yang harus dikembalikan dalam jangka 40 tahun, namun jika terjadi kegagalan itu akan berdampak yang sangat luar biasa terhadap Indonesia. Empat BUMN Indonesia bergabung dalam pembangunan kereta cepat Jakarta-Bandung. Alasan keduanya yang menjadi faktor polemik muncul ditengah masyarakat adalah belum keluarnya izin pembangunan dari Kementrian Perhubungan Republik Indonesia. Izin pembangunan merupakan syarat mutlak untuk PT.KCIC didalam pembangunan kereta cepat Jakarta-Bandung. Kementrian Perhubungan memberikan penjelasan, belum dikeluarkannya izin pembangunan kerete cepat Jakarta Bandung tersebut dikarenakan Proposal izin yang diserahkan oleh PT. KCIC masih belum lengkap. Beberapa dokumen belum lengkap seperti laporan hidroliogi, hidrolika dan yang paling penting adalah dokumen mengenai return on investment (ROI). Sungguh sangat menarik perhatian, izin pembangunan Kereta Cepat Jakarta-Bandung belum keluar dari Kementrian Perhubungan namun pemerintah telah meresmikan groundbreaking pembangunan kereta cepat ini. Apakah ini dipaksakan demi memenuhi beberapa kepeningan unuk beberapa pihak? Alsan yang ketiga adalah efektifitas. Banyak masyarakat menilai bahwa pembangunan kereta cepat Jakarta-Bandung tidak dibutuhkan, mengingat transportasi yang ada pada saat ini juga sudah cukup untuk menopang mobilitas antara Jakarta & Bandung. Panjang rel yang hanya 145 KM dan berhenti di 5 stasiun, tentu Kereta Cepat dengan kecepatan 250 KM  tidak akan melaju maksimal. Masyarakat lebih mendukung pembangunan kereta cepat yang menghubungkan Jakarta-Surabaya. Dilihat segi efektifitas, Jakarta-Surabaya sangat cocok dan pas apabila ada kereta cepat yang bisa menghubungkan kota pertama dan kedua terbesar di Indonesia tersebut.

Namun semoga apa yang telah direncanakan oleh Pemerintah Indonesia , bisa berjalan dengan maksimal. Semoga Kereta Cepat Jakarta-Bandung memeberikan dampak positif bukan hanya untuk kedua kota tersebut. Mudah-mudahan pembangunan ini murni dalam rangka pembangunan untuk kesejahteraan rakyat Indonesia, bukan untuk membantu kepentingan-kepentingan yang merugikan Negara.

Penulis:
Ergi Fathurachman
Direktur Erginesia Institute 

Read More

Rakyat dibiarkan Berkompetisi Dengan Bebas oleh Negara, Benarkah?

Source Image: www.thediplomat.com

31 Desember 2015 merupakan hari yang sangat bersejarah bagi masyarakat ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asia Nations). Yang mana pada ketika waktu itu Asean Economic Community atau yang dikenal sebagai Masyarakat Ekonomi Asean dengan resmi diimplementasikan diseluruh negara ASEAN. Masyarakat Ekonomi Asean atau disingkat dengan MEA, merupakan sebuah perjanjian integrasi perdagangan bebas antar negara-negara ASEAN. 

Pertanyaan yang cukup menarik diawal implementasi MEA ini, apakah Indonesia sudah benar-benar siap menghadapi pertarungan bebas antar negara-negara ASEAN, mengingat perdagangan yang dilakukan pada MEA ini bukan hanya perdagangan barang atau goods saja. Namun, pada era Masyarakat Ekonomi ASEAN ini pula, tenaga kerja dari negara-negara ASEAN boleh bekerja diseluruh negara ASEAN. 

Ketika saya melihat beberapa negara diwilayah ASEAN, sebutlah Thailand. Ketika kita membandingkan Indonesia dan Thailand tentu sangat terlihat bahwa kita sedikit lebih dibelakang Thailand dalam hal persiapan menghadapi MEA. Meraka sudah mempersiapkan betul dimulai membeikan pemahaman ditingkat sekolah-sekolah sampai memberikan branding tentang MEA kesuluruh pelosok negeri. Jika kia melihat dengan cermat, boleh dikatakan sosialisasi tentang MEA kepada seluruh masyarakat Indonesia tidaklah merata. Apakah masyarakat di desa-desa, seluruh peosok negeri sudah mengeahui dan memahami betul tentang MEA? saya rasa tidak. Di Indonesia hanya beberapa kalangan saja yang sudah mengetahui tentang MEA, itupun belum tentu mereka mengerti dengan sepenuhnya. 

Maraknya pengangguran di Indonesia diakibatkan oleh beberapa faktor. Salah satu utama faktor dari masalah pengangguran di indonesia selain terbatasnya lapangan pkerjaan di Indonesia adalah kurangnya keterampilan yang dimiliki oleh angkatan kerja Indonesia. Menjadi PR yang berat tentunya unuk pemerintah. Saya cukup sedih ketika membaca beberapa berita, bahwa pemerintah menekankan masyarakat untuk berkompetisi tanpa mempersiapkan segala sesuatunya dengan baik. terlebih lagi cukup mencengangkan bahwa dari pihak pemerintah membiarkan masyarakat untuk berkompetisi langsung tanpa adanya jaminan proteksi  dari negara. Pemerintah menekankan kepada masyarakat untuk jangan mengharapkan proteksi dan perlindungan dari negara. 

Membiarkan masyarakat tanpa adanya proteksi oleh negara merupakan sebuah penghiatan yang dilakukan oleh Negara terhadap Undang Undang Dasar 1945. Pada UUD 1995 sangat jelas tertulis "Kemudian daripada itu untuk membentuk suatu Pemerintah Negara Indonesia yang melindungi segenap bangsa Indonesia dan seluruh tumpah darah Indonesia...". Negara pada hal ini harus melindungi/memproteksi seluruh rakyatnya dalam hal menghadapi MEA. Jangan membiarkan rakyatnya masuk ke sumur kesakitan dengan sengaja dibiarkan. Negara sekelas Amerika saja, mereka sangat perhatian didalam melindungi warganegaranya dimanapun mereka berada, bahkan banyak perusahaan Amerika yang beroperasi diseluruh duniapun, tetap dalam perlindungan mereka. Lalu pantaskah negara Indonesia membiarkan rakyatnya bertarung tanpa adanya proteksi dan Negara? Apakah perbuatan tersebut patut untuk dibiarkan?  

Ergi Fathurachman 

Direktur Erginesia Institute.

Read More