SEA Teacher Project Part 4 (About Mei Fah Luang)

Hello! It's me.. I was wondering if after all these day you'd like to meet... To go over, everything... They said that time suppose to heal, yeah.. But I ain't done much healing...

Haha, sorry for singing instead of writing post content, but that lyric of "Hello" by Adele suddenly coming to my brain after I type "Hello". Imagine that I really sing deep from my heart. Here is the link of my video cover of the song >_< : Hello Cover by Elma

Okay, lets go back to the topic about my time in the Lovely City of Chiang Rai. In the previous post I have written the story until Miss.Nok picked us up from the Airport. So after that she dropped us at CRRU Hotel, we would stay here for the next 3 days. The other participants of the program has arrived first, apparently we were the last participant who came. Here is the list of the participants randomly :

1. I myself, Elma Selviani from Indonesia University of Education (UPI)
2. Mentari Putrirahayu Pratiwi from UPI
3. Hani Maruta Saarah from UPI
4. Citra Mashita from Sebelas Maret State University (UNS)
5. Muhammad Richsan Yamin from Makassar State University (UNM)
6. Nur Soaliha Bagus from UNM
7. Desy Nurmanita from Lambung Mangkurat University (Unlam)
8. Irhaz Zamil Mahmud from Indonesia Islamic University (UII)
9. Khalimatus Saidah from UII
10. R Intan Putri Permata Sari from UII
11. Dwi from UII (I forget her full name, sorry mbak dwii T.T)

The others already got their room, because our number is odd and one room can stayed max by two person so one of Hani, Tari and I had to stay alone. Yes, it was me. Hani and Tari offered to stay together in a room, but I thought It's not too bad to stay alone. Yeah, it was not bad at all. I always enjoy my moment alone.

That night we did not do anything much, only had dinner. I ate at my room, hani and tari also ate at their room, the rest ate at the hall. Guess what I ate for dinner? Indomie, the legend of Indonesian Instant Noodle. Put the noodle on container, pour hot water, wait for 3-5 minutes and voila! I ate in rush because I was starving. After wash the dish I told my mom and my friends that I arrived safely in Chiang Rai, then I cleaned my self and slept tight.

In the morning miss Nok came to take us out. The funny thing was my friends had trouble to lock the door, because It's a bit different from what we have in Indonesia. Fortunately I've discovered how to do that on the previous night. Miss Nok said that we were going to see the ceremony for the Mother of the King, Princess Mother (Somdet Yah) or also known as Mei Fah Luang. The name "Mei Fah Luang" is given by local people means The Mother who Came from the Sky. It's the same name that given for the airport, also there is a university named as her name, Mei Fah Luang University.

There is a history behind the name given to the Princess. Long ago Chiang Rai was kind of abandoned city and had so many Opium field, then the Princess came to the City by helicopter. She brought a lot of changing for the city, so Chiang Rai can be a beautiful city like these day. That's why the Princess is so meaningful for the people of Chiang Rai. The ceremony is a commemoration of her death. Unfortunately when we arrived at the ceremony took place, it has over. So we just look around and took pictures.

We took photo in front of Mei Fah Luang Statue at CRRU Area

To be continue...
Sorry due to unexpected internet problem, I can't finish this post now.
But I will continue writing soon, I will add extra pictures :)
Thank you for reading and see yaa

SEA Teacher Project Part 3 (First Flight)

Hi guys this is the 3rd posting about SEA Teacher project, on the last post I've written about preparation. I forgot to tell you about the flight back to Indonesia. I suggest you to make a clear itinerary and then booking for ticket as soon as you can to get cheaper price. I've told you that the price of my flight to Chiang Rai is around IDR 1.500.000 or THB 3900 (15 kg of baggage) , I also book ticket for flight back to Indonesia earlier costs IDR 1.900.000 or THB 4900 (15 kg of baggage, + 5kg from Bangkok to Jakarta).

We leave from UPI around 4.30 am, we were waiting for the driver because he late. We almost have no time for anything, fortunately the traffic was good so we can make it on time, arrive at Soekarno Hatta International Airport about 8 am. Our flight was on 10.10 am and we have to check in 90 minutes earlier which is 8.40 am.

Let's talk about what to bring and what not to bring. I have to make sure of my  baggage weight, because it will spend much money to pay charge for overweight baggage. I brought formal attire for a week, one pajama and hangout clothes, my personal stuff like face washing, cosmetic, shoes, clothes hanger etc, I packed them all on baggage. When they checked my baggage weight it was only 13 kg. Do not put electronic stuff such as laptop and the charger on baggage, pack them on backpack to take to cabin.

If you go overseas, you also have to make sure about the electricity I mean about the voltage, so your gadget will work. Most of European country and other country in the world use 220 volt until 240 volt, while most of American country and Japan use 100 until 127 volt. One tiny thing that almost didn't care by people is the socket, there are different type of socket in countries over the world, just bring a universal adapter, it will be helpful.

Not to bring books, it's better to have the e-book one, not to bring liquid even still water to cabin, so drink some first or get some cash in local currency to buy mineral water at plane. How about rice cooker? If you want to save money then the answer is : yes! It's very useful, sometimes it's hard to find halal food. So, rice cooker will help much. Packed it in good box, and ask for fragile sticker on it.

First time I entered the plane (Thai Lion airlines) my eyes can't see anything but a figure of a handsome steward, lol. Probably he was the first Thai guy that I met, he reminds me of Mike Angelo, Thailand singer and actor, he has such a killer smile (okay, sorry.. sorry.. I won't mention about this guy anymore). I can feel Thailand atmosphere as I take my seat, all direction written and spoken both in Thai and English. In that moment I still amazed by everything, stewards and stewardesses, Thai magazine, other passengers that speaks in their languages. I was really excited. Thanks to God for this chance, and I just said bismillah as the plane take off. It was pretty nice flight, no delay no turbulence, I closed my eyes for the rest of the flight to Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok.

We arrived in Don Mueang airport at 1.35 pm and went to immigration point immediately. If you go to Thailand you have to write some data on immigration card. Better to get it on the plan. If you forget, you have to ask the card to immigration officer which are not fluently enough in speaking English, and not nice enough to answer your question nicely. So better to ask to young steward on your plane that will explain the detail answer all your question with killer smile and good English. I know.. I know... it's not about the person, it's their job. Steward should be steward so does immigration officer.

(Thailand immigration card)

Fill the data and they will stamped it, keep the departure card to shown at your leaving. One thing that you have noticed is to bring small sling bag to put your passport, ticket, pen and other important document. So you can easily take it when you have to show it. After passing the immigration check point, I took my baggage because I have to move it manually to the next plane.

Eight of us then separated, some of us didn't have to take another flight. They only need to take bus or something, because their location is not too far from Bangkok. But I and two other friends have to continue our flight by plane to Chiang Rai which is in Northern Thailand, near the border of Myanmar and Laos. As an additional information, the point where we can see the border of that three countries is called Golden Triangle.

We were looking for the next terminal in rush, but apparently the schedule of domestic flight was not strict as for international flight. We had time for washing face and buying some water. Ah, we also met a friend from different university for the same program : Mbak Dessy from Lambung Mangkurat University, Borneo. She was alone, an then there were some trouble with her baggage. Fortunately it can be cleared. We were not going together with Mbak Dessy because we took different Airlines.

Our flight to Chiang Rai was by Nok Airlines, the plane was so cute with painting of bird on it. I told that Nok means bird, so maybe that's why. I felt new atmosphere in the second plane, it was all in Thai, the passengers all talking in Thai. We can see mountainous area from top, and as we  arrive in Chiang Rai, there is a gigantic white statue that very beautiful. One of local teacher told me that it is the statue of the mother of Buddha. I can't imagine how big it actually is, even when we saw it from top, it was like very big comparing with the other object surrounds it.

Finally we arrived at Mei Fah Luang International Airport of Chiang Rai. Our guardian lecturer from Chiang Rai Rajabhat University can recognize us easily by our Hijab. Our guardian lecturer : Miss Pakinee Khantikhun or we usually call her by her nick name Miss Nok, is a very very nice person. Even I missed her now when I write this post. She is very patient toward us, and also give us the best smile of her. I'll tell you about my story in the next day. Bye everyone, thank you fro reading!

pssst : Sorry i didn't take pictures :(

SEA Teacher Project Part 2 (Preparation)

Sawadee Kha! Sampurasun!

Sabai dee mai kha? Kumaha damang? Today is Sunday, I have nothing to do (actually i have several tasks but lets just think about it later, lol). So I'll continue the story about the program that make me experience living in Thailand for a month.

Flash back to less than  a couple month ago, when I told by the dean that I got enrolled for this program. Honestly no selection or something, only interview and several test in making lesson plan and English capability. The reason was because there are no others students that enroll for this program. I didn't know why, but I myself know about this program by short message in group chat, and seems no response about that, even when I asked to my lecturers they also didn't know and told me to ask directly to the dean. So, that happened, Alhamdulillah I got enrolled, and the day when I  asked to dean was the last day to enroll participant to SEAMEO.

At the first I felt very desperate about the budget, you know lah... I do part time job as tutor for living, and I didn't want my parents burdened because of me anymore. The dean said that faculty only give IDR 2 million (about THB 5000) for living cost and host university in Thai  will be provide the accommodation during the program, so I have to buy plane ticket by my own money (there is also participant that got fully funded by their university). I do re-budgeting my finance, at the moment I realize that I'll have to work harder and not to waste this chance by do all my best for this program to make this worth it.

Back to the topic about preparation, I only have short time to prepared anything. I was in program of KKN (student community service) which took place in a countryside village, very difficult access and far from city. Even i didn't have passport yet, fortunately I've registered online for the passport so I can make it possible to get my passport issued before the due date. I suggest, if you're student you better get your own passport as soon as possible. You'll never know where and when the chance will come to you to go abroad. Other document that have to prepare is visa, because I only stay for 30 days so i don't have to make it, only show invitation letter from host university for substitute.

About money, they said that you don't have to exchange your currency till you arrive in Thai. But since it was only small amount, I did exchange money in Indonesia with rate IDR 382 for 1 THB. It's better if you also have cash in case you want to buy something in plane, also for local transportation. When I got baht in my hand it was like : really? 20 banknotes of IDR 100.000 worth 5 banknotes of THB 1000? (We really need redenomination, too many zero in our banknotes guys!)

The last but not least, plane ticket. I spent more money to buy plane ticket because i have to take flight twice, from Jakarta-Bangkok and from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. It cost around IDR 1.500.000 or 3900 THB.

 

And finally I leave Indonesia on Sunday 17th July 2016. I'll tell you about the flight and my first day in Chiang Rai in next post. Thank you for reading, see you ^^

(sorry for typos and grammatically error)