Train from Bandung to Jakarta

It was definitely a good choice to travel to and from Bandung using train. Here's some quick write up with pictures.

First of all check the schedule online if you have internet access handy, unfortunately the website is only available in Indonesia language, I have inserted the direct link to it's reservations page, you may want to try filing out the blanks and you should be  getting the result of the available train slots. You may also book your tickets online but do note that it needs to be 48hrs prior to departure. If time does not permit, ticket can be easily purchase on the spot at the counter or any Alfamart in Bandung.

1) Bring alomg your ID card or passport for registration purposes.
2) Make your choice of ticket with the mart cashier
3) You will then be given a receipt that you need to exhange them to boarding pass at the train station maximum 1hour before departure.
4) Exchange your ticket at the customer service counter which is located on the left hand side of the ticket check point of the Bandung station.
5) Next, board the train!

*Please ask the cashier which station you should be getting according to your final destination. In Jakarta there is either Jakarta Kota or Gambir.

This is how alfamart look like

Bandung train station

Customer service is on the left hand side by the entrance of the ticket checkpoint

In the station

The attendance who will check your ticket and give direction according to your seat/car number

The train that I rode on from Bandung to Gambir, Jakarta

This cost RP105,000 per seat

The screen will have  car number and to show passenger how to read their seat alphabet 

Shot alot the way

Another shot

Arrived at Gambir after approximately 3 hrs 15mins

Myanmar - longyi and thanaka land

Yangon - is a city which has a lot of similarity with Kuala Lumpur, there's a lot of cars and flood after heavy rains; how familiar those sight are to us Malaysian!

On currency, USD is widely used in Myanmar, it is even better to use USD rather than the local currency Kyat (pronounce as 'chat'). For example you will be expected to pay USD10/Kyat10,000 whereby exchange rate is at approximately USD1=Kyat971. Just do your own mathematics and you will realize there is a slight differences. It is definitely worth consideting if you are on a long trip and on very tight budget.

Flood scene in Yongon and KL

The other thing we find it so familiar here is food, we stayed in a hostel near china town and   there's this long stretch of night market that sells everything. We like the food here, it is simple yet tasty! 

Seller here would carry their crops in those basket in their shoulder then sell them in the market

The variety of crops, the colour make one happy, don't you agree!

sweets and savory stuff

We ate here twice, cos it is the only stall that at least have got a chinese menu, we have been ordering the food using picture taken either on our phone or camera

Hot noodles always good for raining season

Now, the two significant things that represent the Burmese people has got to be their longyi (wide cloth wrap around) and thanaka (yellowish comestic paste from ground bark). Men and women wear longyi all the time, whether at home or at work as official attire. Women would wear thanaka all the time, cos thanaka is their traditional version of anti wringkles that they paste all over their face, sometimes body too.

This is what I meant, Burmese wear longyi all the time, even when cycling, trust me, it won't be easy to cycle with that costume