Preparing abroad

After establishing my connection on this month. At last I can share my stories again. Last time I use WiFi to write this blog by hang out in cafe buy a cup of coffee, some snacks, and spend some money of course. Hehehe...But finally I can get more closer with my blogs by using Telkomsel Flash. It took some money too but cheaper than my method before. Thanks to Telkomsel.

This is my past experience about preparation on going abroad. Actually my purpose at that time was preparation training of API 510 exam. So what should be prepared?



1. Passport
This is a must. It is your ID card in a foreign country, without this, even you're arrived at the destination you'll get problems with immigration there. The worst case is you will be blacklisted on that country.
We talk about Indonesia's passport. It is just easy to make a passport in Indonesia. All you have to do is to prepare your KTP (Kartu Identitas Penduduk- Residential ID Card), Akte Kelahiran (Birth certificate), KK (Kartu Keluarga - Family certificate) and bring them to immigration office nearby. These documents are in Original and Copy forms. It took about 1 week to proceed your documents to become a passport.

2. Visa (for destination outside South East Asia region)
I don't have any idea how to make Visa since I was went to Malaysia which is still one of countries in South East Asia region. Sometimes perhaps if I want to go further :)

3. Transport tickets
My suggestion is to get this thing much much more in advance to save your money. Hehehe... Because the early you buy the cheaper you get.
And one thing is to familiarize yourself with the route because sometimes it would needs to be transited in some area/district sometimes it wouldn't.

4. Change your money currency.
You need to convert your currency depend on what currency should be used on that country. Certain country has used its specific currency.
You need hard cash to keep you save on living abroad. Because not every transactions can use credit card as payments. You need money to pay for taxi, public transportation, eat, and buying things in traditional market. Take your money from ATM with enough amount. Remember that more is better than less.
I have funny experience regarding money matter...
Before I go to Malaysia I contact my father to give me suggestion about what amount should I take from ATM as a hard cash.
My father suggest me to take about 800,000 Rupiahs which means about 280 RM. That's for 10 days living there. I don't realize it wasn't enough until I'm on a plane to Malaysia and thinking more about that. Because once you're there your local bank account can't be used anymore. Unless you have international bank account, that's different story.
Fortunately I was lucky because in Malaysia they have connection with Indonesian bank to give the authorization in using Malaysian Bank ATM for transactions. It is known as ATM Bersama. To know what Bank ATM in Malaysia could use ATM Bersama, you can check the ATM Bersama logo around ATM.

Once you arrived at your destination country you can ask for guidance about local transportations on the airport stand available (usually). Know the public transportations route would save you more money.
That's all.... and whatever your purpose to go abroad, hope this writing could help.

Have a nice journey......