Sunday, May 31, 2009

(2) CASUARINA SQUARE




David nawarin gue untuk nyetir mobilnya dari rumahnya ke pusat kota tempatnya kerja. Wow... ini pertama kalinya gue nyetir mobil di Luar Negri. Di Australia lagi ... Cool!! Kebayang kan gimana excitingnya gue...??!! Well, ternyata nggak mudah nyetir mobil di sini meskipun jalanan sepi dan kalaupun ada kendaraan lain nggak sepadat di Indonesia. Kalau kita nyetir di Indonesia, masalah kecepatan nggak terlalu diatur. Malah kalo di jalanan sepi bisa nyetir dengan kecepatan sesuka hati kita. Yang penting nggak nabrak orang ... hehehhehe... Beda dengan di Australia, kita nggak bisa seenaknya. Disetiap kilometer ada rambu-rambu berapa speed yang harus kita pacu. Kalau lebih atau kurang kecepatannya, bisa diberhentiin polisi dan ditilang.

David let me drive his car from his house to his office at the city. Wow... It's my first time driving car at overseas. Moreover in Australia... Cool!! Imagine how exciting me...!!?? Well, actually it's not easy drive car in here even the road was not busy and not crowded like in Indonesia. In Indonesia, there is not so tight role regarding the speed. Specially on the road where is not so busy, we can drive as fast as we can as long as not crash with others car or people...hehehehhe... In Australia we have to follow the role. There are speed sign at every kilometers. If we drive less or over the speed, police stop you and give you penalty.

Karena David kerja di perusahaan transportasi, so kita beruntung nggak perlu keluar uang untuk transport selama di Darwin. Dari kantor David kita naik shuttle bus merah milik Grand Touring keliling kota Darwin. Sebenernya Shuttle bus ini memang disediain untuk ngantar jemput tamu-tamu yang mau ke Casuarina Square, mall terbesar di Darwin. Shuttle bus merah ini selalu datang dan pergi setiap sejam lewat 30 menit. Orang Darwin bilang "Hapast" yang artinya "Half Past". Paul, sopir bus merah ini yang ngajarin kata slank-nya orang Darwin ini. Paul orangnya lucu dan menyenangkan. Sepanjang jalan dia bikin semua penumpang ketawa dengan lelucon-lelucon dia. So kita nggak bosen dan ngantuk sepanjang perjalanan.

Lucky for me and Irene, we don’t need to spend money for transportation while in Darwin due to David works for transportation company. We are going around the city from David office by red shuttle bus of Grand Touring, David’s company. Actually the shuttle bus is providing for guests who wants to go to Casuarina Square, the biggest mall in Darwin. The red shuttle bus depart and arrive every Half Past. Darwin people said "hapast". Paul, the bus driver teaches us that slang word of Darwin people. He’s very nice and funny person. Always bring sense of humor in the bus, so we and another passenger never get bored in the bus.

Tadinya cuma mau jalan-jalan keliling Casuarina Square tapi ternyata nggak berasa nguras habis dollar sama limit kartu credit ... he he he ... Girls always about diamonds and shoes. Apalagi Darwin punya reputasi penghasil mutiara terbaik sedunia dan berlian Australia menyinari imaginasi dunia dengan kilaunya yang unik dan warna-warna exotic pink yang mempesona, champagne yang berkilauan, dan putih yang mempesona. Gimana kita bisa cuek sama banyak discount discount yang ditawarin. He he he he ....

Before our plan only want to going arround Casuarina square but we didn't realize that our dollar spent out and no credit card limit already... he he he he... Girls always about diamonds and shoes. Moreover The Top End has earned a worldwide reputation for producing pearls of the finest quality and Australian diamonds are lighting the world's imagination with their unique blilliance and stunning colour of exotic pink, sparkling champagne and dazzling white. How can we just leave so many discount offered he he he he....

Sunday, May 10, 2009

(1) PALMERSTON



Ini merupakan liburan akhir pekan yang menarik selama di Darwin, salah satu tempat paling indah di Australia dan deket banget sama Bali. Cuma butuh waktu 2,5 jam terbang dari Denpasar ke Darwin. Cuaca maupun udaranya sama persis dengan Bali. Jadi gue nggak perlu repot-repot nyiapin segala macem sebelum berangkat. Apalagi ini yang kedua kalinya gue mengunjungi kota kecil ini. Sama seperti tiga tahun yang lalu, sahabat gue David ngundang gue untuk liburan di kotanya.Gue dapet tiket Jetstar gratis pulang pergi Denpasar - Darwin dan sponsor untuk apply visa Australia dari David. Karena kebetulan juga Jetstar lagi ada promo cuma US$ 72.00 return, so Irene ikut joint gue ke Darwin.

It’s been an interesting weekend holiday in Darwin, the most beautiful place in Australia and very close from Bali. Only needs 2.5 hour to fly there from Denpasar. The weather and air is very similar with Bali. So I didn't need to prepare anything before I go to Darwin. This is my second time visit this small city. Same like 3 years ago, my best friend David gave me a free ticket return Denpasar - Darwin and sponsored me to apply Australia Visa. Just by chance Jetstar was having promotional ticket only US$ 72.00 for return, so Irene joint with me to go to Darwin.

Selama liburan di Darwin, kita tinggal di rumah David di daerah Palmerston, pinggiran kota Darwin. Ya...kita beruntung, selain nggak perlu keluar biaya untuk hotel, kita bisa ngerasain langsung kehidupan sehari-hari orang-orang Darwin. David tinggal dengan Yanna istrinya dan dua orang anaknya Deon and Danielle.

During the holiday, we stayed at David house in Palmerston city, suburbs of Darwin. Yah....we were lucky, we didn't need to spend money for hotel and also know Darwin people life closer. David live with his wife Yanna and their kids Deon and Danielle.

Palmerston merupakan kota keluarga. Di sana ada kolam renang umum, pusat rekreasi, shopping center, dan fasilitas umum lainnya yang gampang dijangkau oleh kendaraan umum. Suasananya tenang dan menyenangkan. Penduduknya sangat ramah dan kekeluargaan. Kota ini juga tidak jauh dari banyak tempat-tempat indah dan taman nasional Northern Territory.

Palmerston is a family oriented city. There are a pool, recreation centre, Palmerston shopping center, and others public facility as well as easy and reliable public transport. The atmosphere is very quiet and pleased area. The peoples are very friendly and family environment. The city is just a step away from the many beautiful landmark and national parks the Northern Territory has to offer.