(11) HAI VAN TUNNEL

Perjalanan dari Da Nang ke Hue cukup jauh dan sangat menyenangkan, karena kita menyusuri sepanjang Pantai dengan pasirnya yang berwarna kuning. Sayangnya cuaca agak kurang bersahabat, anginnya cukup keras dan agak gerimis. Mungkin juga karena badai semalam. Apalagi kadang-kadang ombaknya lumayan tinggi dan sampai ke jalan yang dilewati. Serasa kayak ada tsunami dateng dan bikin gue teriak setiap ombak besar dateng. Soalnya gue duduk di sebelah kanan yang persis di sebelah pantai makanya kalau ombak datang langsung menghantam kaca jendela di sebelahku. Tapi biarpun serem, tetep seru banget dan bikin gue ketawa lepas setiap gue teriak karena ombak datang. O ya … kendaraan di sini setirnya di sebelah kiri dan mengendarainya di sebelah kanan jalan, pertamanya agak aneh dan canggung karena kalau di Indonesia kebalikannya. Tapi lama-lama terbiasa juga.

The trip from Da Nang to Hue was far enough and great fun, because we drove along the beach with yellow sand. Unfortunately the weather is a bit less friendly, fairly windy and a little drizzle. Perhaps it’s also because of the storm last night. Moreover, sometimes the waves were quite high and to the road impassable. Feeling like a tsunami coming and make me scream every big wave comes. Because of I was sitting at the right side in the car and next to the beach so when the waves come directly hit the glass window next to me. But even scary, it’s really exciting and makes me laugh every times yelled out because the waves came. Oh ya ... here vehicle wheel on the left side and drive on the right road, first a bit strange and awkward as if in Indonesia opposite. But after a long time I get used to it.

Perjalanan ke Hue makin seru waktu kita ngelewati terowongan Hai Van terpanjang dan terbesar di Asia Tenggara. Terowongan ini merupakan salah satu dari 30 terowongan terbesar di dunia dan panjangnya 6,26 kilometer. Wow …. Kereeennn!! Gak nyangka, negara yang baru merdeka ini ternyata cara berpikirnya hebat banget.

Travel to Hue more exciting when we pass The Hai Van tunnel, the longest and largest in Southeast Asia. This tunnel is one of the 30 biggest tunnels in the world and a length of 6.26 kilometers. Wow .... Coooolll! I haven’t think, this newly independent country that was his way of thinking really great.

(10) DA NANG CATHEDRAL – CON GA CHURCH

"Interesting unusual color of the church of Da Nang ... "PINK" ... like to say I love you Jesus, you are my soul, you are my desire ... with all my heart"

Sepanjang perjalanan dari bandara, warna kuning menjadi ciri has hampir setiap bangunan di Da Nang. Gw tanya Vu apakah warna tersebut mempunyai arti atau makna bagi masyarakat Da Nang, ternyata dia sendiri nggak tahu kenapa … he he he he … aneh juga ya … punya warna favorite bisa kompakan gitu. Tapi karena gara-gara warna kuning ini, begitu gue ngeliat ada bangunan berwana pinky, langsung menarik perhatian gue untuk berhenti dan mampir sebentar. Ternyata bangunan tersebut adalah sebuah gereja, keliatan ada salib diatas bangunan tersebut. Sayang pintu pagarnya terkunci, jadi gue nggak bisa masuk untuk berdoa dan mencari tahu gereja apa ini.

All the way from the airport, almost every building in Da Nang has a yellow color character. I asked Vu whether the colors have meaning or significance for the people of Da Nang, it turns out he did not know why ... he he he he ... very strange yaaa … how they compaction have a favorite color like that. But because of the yellow color, when I saw a pinky colored buildings, it’s direct in my attention to stop by. It turned out that the building is a church, seen by a cross on top of the building. Unfortunately the gate is locked, so I can not go inside to pray and find out what this church.

Rasa penasaran gue akan gereja satu ini, bikin gue searching di internet. Wow … ternyata gue berdiri di depan Gereja Katedral yang sangat terkenal. Gereja Katedral permen pinky ini adalah salah satu dari Gereja-Gereja tua besar dan itu dibangun untuk penduduk Perancis pada tahun 1923. Gereja ini dikenal penduduk lokal dengan nama Gereja Con Ga yang artinya Gereja Ayam Jago karena petunjuk arah arah angin berupa patung seekor ayam jago di atas menara gereja.

My curiosity to the church, made me search to the internet. Wow ... I was standing in front of the Cathedral Church which is very famous. The candy-pink Da Nang Cathedral is one of those grand old Churches and it was built for the city's French residents in 1923. It’s known to locals as Con Ga Church (Rooster Church) because of the weathercock on top of the steeple.

(9) DA NANG

Begitu keluar dari Airport Da Nang, gue dijemput sama Vu sopir yang disewa Mey untuk ngaterin gue keliling Da Nang. Senangnya … begitu denger dia ngomong dengan bahasa Inggris yang kayak air mengalir. Ternyata Santi teman baru gue nggak ada yang ngejemput di airport, so gue tawarin untuk bareng karena menurut Vu, alamat itu searah dengan kita.

Once out of Da Nang Airport, Vu the driver who hired by Mey to bring me going around Da Nang picked me up in the airport. So happy … It's good to hear him speak in English language like flows of water. Apparently no body pick Santi up in the airport, so I offered her to joint in our car because according to Vu, we will pass her address on the way our direction.

Da Nang adalah sebuah kota pelabuhan utama di Selatan Central Coast Vietnam, di pantai Laut Cina Selatan di muara Sungai Han. Suasana kota Da Nang seperti kota Jogjakarta di tahun 80-an. Model bangunan, rumah-rumah penduduk, dan pertokoannya kuno-kuno seperti di daerah Malioboro. Banyak orang menggunakan sepeda dan sepeda motor untuk transportasinya. Kota yang terbelah oleh Sungai Han ini, terkenal dengan Jembatannya yang sangat besar dan panjang. Jembatan ini menghubungkan dua kabupaten Hai Chau dan Anak Tra dengan panjang 759 m dan lebar 34,5 m. Jembatan sungai Han merupakan kebanggaan masyarakat Da Nang. Jembatan ini adalah simbol semangat dan keinginan untuk mengembangkan kota Da Nang yang dibangun dengan kontribusi dari semua orang di kota itu. Sepertinya semua puisi-puisi Sungai Han hanya dapat dinyatakan mendalam di dalam Jembatan Sungai Han yang penuh angin dan ventilasi. Jembatan Sungai Han dikatakan sebagai tempat budaya masyarakat Da Nang saat ini yang akan menjadi peninggalan bagi generasi mendatang.

Da Nang is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. The atmosphere of the city of Da Nang is same like the city of Jogjakarta in the 80s. Models of buildings, houses, and shop are very old like in the area of Malioboro. Many people ride bicycles and motorcycles for transportation. The town is split by the Han River which famous with very big and long bridge on the river. The bridge is connecting the two districts of Hai Chau and Son Tra with a length of 759 m, 34.5 m wide. The bridge is the pride of Da Nang people. The Han River Bridge is the symbol for new vitality and the developing desire of the city which was built with the contribution of all people in the city. It seems that all poetic features of the Han River can be only expressed deeply in the space of Han River Bridge with full of wind and ventilation. The Han River Bridge is said to be a cultural spot of the Da Nang people today that would be left behind for the future generations.

(8) FLY TO DA NANG

SECOND DAY, NOVEMBER 03^RD, 2009

Sementara Dedy masih mimpi indah, jam 5 pagi gue udah berangkat ke bandara Tan Son Nhat untuk terbang ke kota Da Nang. Untung alarm di handphone gue nggak ngambek kayak biasanya, kalo itu terjadi … bakalan bablas deh sampai siang … habis gue capek banget dan kurang tidur. Kebetulan gue dapet taxi yang sopirnya bisa bahasa Inggris. Ternyata nih sopir jam terbang ke luar negrinya cukup tinggi. Kalah gue dengan sopir taxi … he he he he … pantes aja dia jago bahasa Inggris :) Selama perjalanan dia banyak cerita tentang kota Ho Chi Minh atau Saigon dan tempat-tempat wisata yang bisa dikunjungin. Kota Saigon di pagi hari lumayan sibuk dan macet. Meskipun kota yang baru mulai membangun setelah merdeka ini kelihatan kumuh dan kotor, tapi gue cukup menikmati sightseeing selama perjalanan ke airport.

While Dedy still in the beautiful dream, at 5 am I am going to Tan Son Nhat airport to fly to Da Nang city. Fortunately the alarm on my handphone was not cranky like usual. If that happens ... I would go to sleeping beauty till noon ... I was very tired and lacking sleep. I was lucky to get a taxi that the driver can speak English. It turns out the driver flying hours out his country is quite high. I lose with taxi driver ... he he he he ... That’s why he can speak English very good :) During the way to airport he told many things about the Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon and tourist attractions that I can visit. Saigon City in the morning is quite busy and jammed. Although the new town began to build after independence it look shabby and dirty, but I quite enjoy sightseeing during the trip to the airport.

Suasana airport pagi ini ramai sekali. Ternyata kemarin semua penerbangan dibatalkan karena ada badai. Jadi semua penumpang yang seharusnya berangkat kemarin, dipindahkan ke pagi ini. Waaahhh … penuh dan panjang banget antriannya di tempat check in. Gila ini airport dah kayak terminal bus aja. Sekarang gue baru ngerti kenapa Mey bolak-balik SMS bilang kemungkinan flight-ku cancel dan aku harus ngecek ke Jet Satr. Lagi nunggu antrian, tiba-tiba ada ibu-ibu tua dateng menghampiri gue dan ngomong pake bahasa Vietnam yang kagak gue ngerti. Beberapa kali gue bilang “I am sorry, I can’t speak Vietnam language” gak ngerti-ngerti juga dia. Tapi anehnya si ibu ini tetep aja kekeuh ngajak ngomong gue, sampai-sampai saking putus asa bahasa orang bisu pun gue pake … he he he he … Alhasil gue ternyata gue jadi ngetop di sekitar check in area karena gue satu-satunya orang asing dan jadi tontonan semua orang. Perasaan udah jadi hukum karma buat gue kali ya … setiap ada di airport suatu negara selalu jadi tontonan … he he he he …

The airport atmosphere was crowded this morning. It turned out that all flights were canceled yesterday because of a storm. So, all the passengers are supposed to fly yesterday, moved into this morning. Waaahhh ... the airport so full and very long queue at the check-in counter. Crazy! This airport is like bus station. Now I understand why Mey sent me many SMS saying that my flight may be cancelled and I have to check to Jet Star. While waiting my turn, a suddenly there is the mother came over to me and talk in Vietnamese language which I don’t understand. Several times I said "I am sorry, I can't speak Vietnamese language" but couldn’t understand. She keeps talk to me in her language, I was so desperate until I tried the mute language too ….. he he he he ... As a result I found I was so popular around the check-in area because I was the only foreigner and so spectacle everyone. I think it already become laws of karma for me ... every time I was in the airport of a country, I always be a spectacle ... he he he he ...

Akhirnya cewek yang antri dibelakang gue ngejelasin ke si ibu pake bahasa Vietnam … duh leganya … ternyata nih cewek bahasa Inggris-nya lumayan bagus. Namanya Santi, kayak nama Indonesia … gak tahu bener apa gak tulisannya. Menurut Santi, si ibu itu baru pertama kali naik pesawat dan dia ternyata salah ngantri ke tempat check in yang tujuannya ke Da Nang, sedangkan dia mau ke Hanoi. Hhmmm … kasian juga ya … apalagi dia ngira gue ini orang Hanoi … menurut Santi emang mirip sih ... Walah … susah bener punya mata sipit begini :) Tapi lumayan gue dapet temen ngobrol selama penerbangan ke Da Nang yang sangat tidak nyaman karena badai. Apalagi pesawat Jet Star yang aku tumpangi adalah pesawat kecil, jadi kayak terombang-ambing di udara.

Finally, girls who line up behind the old lady explain to her use Vietnamese language that I am foreigner and can’t speak Vietnamese Language. Aaahh … I felt relief … finally found someone who can speak English, her English is quiet good. Her name is Santi, like Indonesian name ... but do not know it is right written name or not. According to Santi, the old lady was the first time travels by airplane and she was wrong queue to check in place that aim to Da Nang, while she wants to Hanoi. Hhmmm … I felt pity to her ... even she thought I was the Hanoi ... Santi also though same like the old lady ... Aaahh ... so hard have narrow eyes like mine :) But anyway I'm lucky got friend for chat during a very uncomfortable flight to Da Nang because of the storm. Moreover, I flied with small Jet Star plane, so like drifting in the air.

(7) FIRST VIETNAM FOOD

Begitu kopi habis, Daud buru-buru pulang karena udah malem dan kebetulan memang rumahnya cukup jauh dari daerah Pham Ngu Lao. Tadinya Daud mau nganterin balik ke hotel tapi gue pengen jalan kaki sambil nyari makan malem. Daerah Pham Ngu Lao ini mirip banget kayak daerah Poppies di Kuta atau daerah Sosrowijayan kalo di Yogyakarta yang gak pernah sepi dengan kehidupan malamnya. Pengennya sih nongkrong di salah satu café tapi mikir juga kalo nanti ditawar orang … he he he he …

Once the coffee runs out, Daud rush to back home because late night already and his place far from Pham Ngu Lao area. Daud was willing to bring me back to the hotel but I wanted to walk while looking for dinner. Pham Ngu Lao area is very similar like Poppies area in Kuta or Sosrowijayan area in Yogyakarta where never quiet with nightlife. Actually I wanna hanging out in one of the café but also think if later offered people ... he he he he ...

Akhirnya gue berhenti di salah satu warteg beberapa meter dari hotel. Yang bikin gue tertarik warteg ini nge-display berbagai macam kerang and siput yang aneh-aneh bentuknya dan nggak pernah gue temuin di Indonesia. Rada keder juga sih sebenernya mo makan tuh kerang and siputnya … tapi rasa penasaran dan cacing-cacing gue di dalem perut lebih kuat untuk menyantap habis tuh makanan. Apalagi ternyata tuh makanan rasanya enak banget … nggak kalah sama warteg-warteg di Bangkok and di Indonesia … he he he he …Trus yang bikin surprise … makan malam gue cuma habis VDN 20,000 … gila cuma Rp 10.000 :)

Finally I stopped at one of stall food few meters from the hotel. What makes me interested in this stall food displaying various kinds of clams and snails are strangely shaped and I never find it in Indonesia. Little bit nervous actually to eat strange shellfish and snails ... but curiosity and worms in my stomach stronger to run out eat the food. Moreover, it turns out the food taste awful ... do not lose with stall food in Bangkok and in Indonesia ... he he he he ... Moreover it made me surprised … my dinner only cosseted VDN 20,000 or in IDR 10.000 … wow so cheap!