Have you ever visited a place in such a short period of time it felt like a midsummer's dream?
In 2007, I was assigned to Yogyakarta, Central Java to attend Hari Bakti TNI AU. I had to be present at Halim Perdanakusumah airport at 5 a.m., flew in a Hercules aircraft at 6 a.m., touched down at Maguwo airport in Yogyakarta, attend the 2-hour ceremony at 7 a.m., did interview and lunch, and at 1 p.m. I was already in Jakarta again. I didn't even step out of Maguwo airport.
My colleague Soehtam even had a much worse experience. He went from Jakarta to Manado, Sulawesi in the early dawn. The journey between Jakarta and Manado takes around four-five hours, but since Jakarta and Manado have two-hour time difference, he got in Manado when the sun was already high. He flew back from Manado at 7 p.m., had the same four-hour flight, but when he arrived in Jakarta it was still 9 p.m. in local time.
"It was literally the longest day in my life," he said.
It seemed that history repeated again. I left Jakarta for Rome, Italy to attend a three-day course held by Thomson Reuters Foundation and Rome-based UN agency IFAD. The visa itself took about five days (which was amazing because the normal visa will need 12-15 days, grazie Ambasciata). Unfortunately, I could not extend my sojourn in Rome. But I did have a great time:)
I arrived in Rome on Feb. 17 at 13.00 local time. Rome and Jakarta have six-hour time difference, so it's already 19.00 in Jakarta. The long journey was really tiring (oh well, perhaps it's due to age), but I was determined to try Rome's public transportation. So instead of hailing a cab, I bought train ticket (8 Euro) for FR1 line to reach Roma Ostiense station.
I was so surprised when the train came because it was totally covered in graffiti it looked like it had been severely vandalized. Then the first trial came: I got off the wrong station. I asked a man if I needed to buy another ticket to reach Roma Ostiense. Although I asked in English, the man replied in Italian. Ouch!
But of all the words he said, my ears caught words that sounded like dix minutes (French word for 'ten minutes'). The man also pointed his hand to the platform. So the train would come in 10 minutes and I should stay and wait there, I concluded. The conclusion was correct. Anyway, according to a website, Rome's temperature that day was between 10 and 13 degree Celsius, so standing on the platform for 10 minutes was not an exciting experience.
After getting off in Roma Ostiense, I transferred to subway heading for Laurentina. The subway ticket is only 1 Euro. As I dragged my luggage to the hotel, a street vendor greeted me with,"Assalamualaikum, are you Malaysian?" Oh wow, feels like home already, hahaha. Anyway, the street vendor is a Bangladeshi, but he worked in Malaysia for 14 years, so we talked a bit, he used Melayu language, while I Bahasa.
When I saw my hotel room, I was shocked. It was so small, I barely had space to move around. I don't have claustrophobia and I am petite enough to sleep on that tiny single bed. But still, I was expecting a little bit more space.
On Friday, I met with the other 17 journalists across the globe. The room where we convened was soon filled with conversation in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and even African languages. I really loved the mixed combination of the group. The meeting was ended at 5 p.m. And we rushed to the city!
I went with Jessica from Singapore, Rahimy from Malaysia and Aya from Dubai, UAE. We headed straight to Fontana di Trevi. If the day was cold, the night was even colder. We had pizzas for dinner in a small restaurant before going back to the hotel.
On Saturday, the course began. Then I joined a reception with the hope that I could meet my delegations. Since there were none, I took comfort in the delicious foods served in the event. The reception ended at 8 p.m. There were only Jorge, the Paraguayan journo, and I in the IFAD building, so I asked him if he wanted to go around the city. Well, I was a bit forcing him to accompany me:P. At first, he said he was tired and wanted to sleep.
"But we don't go to Rome everyday, Jorge," I said.
Upon hearing those words, he finally said,"Okay, let's meet at the lobby 15 minutes from now."
Yay! Since it was Saturday, the subway service lasted until 1.30 a.m., while from Sunday to Friday, the subway only ran until 9.30 p.m. It was very late, but the subway was bustling with Italians who wanted to hit downtown with their friends and partners.
We met Josefina, a nice Peruvian lady, at Laurentina station (Jorge started a conversation with her in Spanish) and she suggested that we got off at Flaminio station and looked around. So off we went to Flaminio, and there we found Piazza del Popolo, walked to Piazza di Spagna, and climbed the Spanish steps.
I love exploring a city at night as it falls to sleep and loosens its guard. The city lights were up and people were walking hands in hands along the streets. The photos I took this night were a bit blurry, but I kinda loved them for the dreamy look.
During our subway ride back to the hotel, we went into a car with drunk Italians. They kept yelling and jostling among themselves. Jorge looked a bit worried and he kept a watchful guard. Thank God, two train police officers came and told the drunk guys to leave the train.
Sunday morning found me working on the training again. The session ended at 2 p.m., the journos had a quick farewell (saying goodbyes is painful) and headed out to explore the city before leaving Rome. I went with Jessica and Aya.
We went to Colosseum, see a glimpse of the Roman ruins, saw the inside of Pantheon, and had dinner in a restaurant. Rome was raining after dinner, so I pulled out a red umbrella I just bought for 12 Euros and gave it a rain check (aha, a pun, hahaha). The umbrella passed with flying colors:).
Monday was the last day. Since my flight was at 8.35 p.m., I decided to explore the city again before leaving Rome. Not just a place in Rome, but the Vatican City. I went with Jessica. We passed a very long queue for the Vatican museum. Fortunately, we bought advanced tickets online (19 Euros) and we could get in in a jiffy.
Going to the Vatican Museum was really a lifetime experience. Well, at least for me since I love art. I was finally able to see with my own eyes the sculpture of The Pity and the fresco of The Last Judgement in Sistine Chapel, after just admiring them from books and photos. Both are the works of Michaelangelo. I could spend hours to stay there, but time was ticking. So little time, so much to do and see.
Then we went to St. Peter's Basilica, climbed the cupola and saw Rome from above. The climb to the cupola was hard, but the view was worth it. Magnificent! During my college years, I saw this bird eye's view of St. Peter's Basilica in Francis DK Ching's book. Seeing it for real almost brought tears to my eyes.
And that ladies and gentlemen, the last moments I had with Rome as I had to ran back to the hotel to pick up my luggage and headed straight to Fiumicino airport. Then I had another 15-16 hours of flight, four hours of transit and the six-hour time difference all over again, and here I am:).
I arrived in Rome on Feb. 17 at 13.00 local time. Rome and Jakarta have six-hour time difference, so it's already 19.00 in Jakarta. The long journey was really tiring (oh well, perhaps it's due to age), but I was determined to try Rome's public transportation. So instead of hailing a cab, I bought train ticket (8 Euro) for FR1 line to reach Roma Ostiense station.
A subway train in Rome
I was so surprised when the train came because it was totally covered in graffiti it looked like it had been severely vandalized. Then the first trial came: I got off the wrong station. I asked a man if I needed to buy another ticket to reach Roma Ostiense. Although I asked in English, the man replied in Italian. Ouch!
But of all the words he said, my ears caught words that sounded like dix minutes (French word for 'ten minutes'). The man also pointed his hand to the platform. So the train would come in 10 minutes and I should stay and wait there, I concluded. The conclusion was correct. Anyway, according to a website, Rome's temperature that day was between 10 and 13 degree Celsius, so standing on the platform for 10 minutes was not an exciting experience.
After getting off in Roma Ostiense, I transferred to subway heading for Laurentina. The subway ticket is only 1 Euro. As I dragged my luggage to the hotel, a street vendor greeted me with,"Assalamualaikum, are you Malaysian?" Oh wow, feels like home already, hahaha. Anyway, the street vendor is a Bangladeshi, but he worked in Malaysia for 14 years, so we talked a bit, he used Melayu language, while I Bahasa.
When I saw my hotel room, I was shocked. It was so small, I barely had space to move around. I don't have claustrophobia and I am petite enough to sleep on that tiny single bed. But still, I was expecting a little bit more space.
The tiny hotel room
On Friday, I met with the other 17 journalists across the globe. The room where we convened was soon filled with conversation in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and even African languages. I really loved the mixed combination of the group. The meeting was ended at 5 p.m. And we rushed to the city!
I went with Jessica from Singapore, Rahimy from Malaysia and Aya from Dubai, UAE. We headed straight to Fontana di Trevi. If the day was cold, the night was even colder. We had pizzas for dinner in a small restaurant before going back to the hotel.
On Saturday, the course began. Then I joined a reception with the hope that I could meet my delegations. Since there were none, I took comfort in the delicious foods served in the event. The reception ended at 8 p.m. There were only Jorge, the Paraguayan journo, and I in the IFAD building, so I asked him if he wanted to go around the city. Well, I was a bit forcing him to accompany me:P. At first, he said he was tired and wanted to sleep.
"But we don't go to Rome everyday, Jorge," I said.
Upon hearing those words, he finally said,"Okay, let's meet at the lobby 15 minutes from now."
Yay! Since it was Saturday, the subway service lasted until 1.30 a.m., while from Sunday to Friday, the subway only ran until 9.30 p.m. It was very late, but the subway was bustling with Italians who wanted to hit downtown with their friends and partners.
We met Josefina, a nice Peruvian lady, at Laurentina station (Jorge started a conversation with her in Spanish) and she suggested that we got off at Flaminio station and looked around. So off we went to Flaminio, and there we found Piazza del Popolo, walked to Piazza di Spagna, and climbed the Spanish steps.
Piazza del Popolo
Piazza de Spagna and the Spanish step
I love exploring a city at night as it falls to sleep and loosens its guard. The city lights were up and people were walking hands in hands along the streets. The photos I took this night were a bit blurry, but I kinda loved them for the dreamy look.
During our subway ride back to the hotel, we went into a car with drunk Italians. They kept yelling and jostling among themselves. Jorge looked a bit worried and he kept a watchful guard. Thank God, two train police officers came and told the drunk guys to leave the train.
Sunday morning found me working on the training again. The session ended at 2 p.m., the journos had a quick farewell (saying goodbyes is painful) and headed out to explore the city before leaving Rome. I went with Jessica and Aya.
We went to Colosseum, see a glimpse of the Roman ruins, saw the inside of Pantheon, and had dinner in a restaurant. Rome was raining after dinner, so I pulled out a red umbrella I just bought for 12 Euros and gave it a rain check (aha, a pun, hahaha). The umbrella passed with flying colors:).
Be a gladiator at the Colosseum
Monday was the last day. Since my flight was at 8.35 p.m., I decided to explore the city again before leaving Rome. Not just a place in Rome, but the Vatican City. I went with Jessica. We passed a very long queue for the Vatican museum. Fortunately, we bought advanced tickets online (19 Euros) and we could get in in a jiffy.
Going to the Vatican Museum was really a lifetime experience. Well, at least for me since I love art. I was finally able to see with my own eyes the sculpture of The Pity and the fresco of The Last Judgement in Sistine Chapel, after just admiring them from books and photos. Both are the works of Michaelangelo. I could spend hours to stay there, but time was ticking. So little time, so much to do and see.
La Pieta (or The Pity) by Michaelangelo
Then we went to St. Peter's Basilica, climbed the cupola and saw Rome from above. The climb to the cupola was hard, but the view was worth it. Magnificent! During my college years, I saw this bird eye's view of St. Peter's Basilica in Francis DK Ching's book. Seeing it for real almost brought tears to my eyes.
And that ladies and gentlemen, the last moments I had with Rome as I had to ran back to the hotel to pick up my luggage and headed straight to Fiumicino airport. Then I had another 15-16 hours of flight, four hours of transit and the six-hour time difference all over again, and here I am:).
ngilerrr..
ReplyDeletei wanna vatican, i wanna vatican T_T
*ngoper tisu buat ngelap iler*
ReplyDeleteayo ngerayu suami untuk liburan ke sana. tapi siap2 dipanggil 'mother' or 'sister' ya:)