Tips Menyewa Flat di Singapura

Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy

Bagi kawan sekalian yang hendak atau berencana kerja di Singapura, atau memang akan pindah ke Singapura, entah karena suatu pekerjaan, maupun melanjutkan study, hal paling utama yang kita pikirkan pasti tempat tinggal. Kira-kira kita nanti akan tinggal dimana di Singapura? Dan biasanya kebanyakan orang akan memilih tinggal disebuah flat.

Eh, flat itu apa sih? Ada orang bilang flat itu ya apartemen, ada orang lain lain menyebutnya condo, apapun itu dalam pengertian bebasnya sama, “rumah susun”. Nah, di Singapura ini ada yang disebut dengan HDB, dan condo/ apartemen. Bedanya apa HBD dengan condo?? HDB adalah singkatan dari Housing and Development Board. HDB ini yang mengelola pemerintah Singapura, dijual dengan harga murah untuk warga Singapura (Singaporeans). HDB harganya lebih murah daripada condo. Sementara condo, yang mengelola adalah pihak swasta, dan harganyapun jauh lebih mahal. Sebagai perbandingan saja, harga sewa satu kamar condo, itu bisa sama dengan harga sewa satu unit HDB.. Wow, jauh kan perbedaan harganya…Maka banyak pendatang, termasuk saya dan suami, yang memilih untuk menyewa flat (HDB).

Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy

Nah, untuk menyewa flat di Singapura, bisa saya katakan gampang, juga bisa saya katakan sulit. Gampang (mudah), karena untuk mencari flat yang disewakan relatif mudah. Ada satu website property yang selalu menjadi rujukan untuk kami dalam berburu flat, namanya property Guru. Disana terdapat banyak flat yang disewakan dengan bermacam fasilitas, dengan rentang harga berbeda-beda. “Sulit”, mencari tempat sewa (flat) ini menjadi sulit, karena pertama, mau, tidak mau harus menggunakan jasa agent property yang kita sendiri belum mengenal si agent. Kedua, menjadi sulit, karena kita harus cermat dan teliti dalam menyewa tempat tinggal (flat). Ya kita harus benar-benar meneli dengan baik flat yang akan kita sewa. Tujuannya apa? Agar tidak terjadi masalah dikemudian hari, atau minimal meminimalisasi masalah.

Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy

Secara umum, untuk menyewa flat di Singapura ada beberapa langkah yang harus kita lalui. Pertama-tama,  pastinya kita melihat-lihat iklan sewa flat yang ada, menghubungi agent property-nya. kemudian janji ketemu untuk melihat flat-nya. Setelah kita merasa cocok dengan salah satu flat, maka kita diminta agent property (agent yang memegang flat tersebut), untuk membayar uang deposit. Artinya, setelah kita membayar uang deposit, iklan sewa flat tersebut akan di “turunkan”, alias tidak dipasarkan lagi. Istilah gampangnya, flat tersebut sudah kita booking. Setelah membayar uang deposit, ditanggal yang telah kita tentukan (kapan kita akan mulai menempati flat tersebut), kita akan melakukan sign contract, yaitu menandatangi surat kontrak sewa-menyewa flat dengan berbagai ketentuan-ketentuan yang harus kita patuhi. Biasanya, penandatangan kontrak sewa ini dilakukan minimal sehari sebelum kita menempati flat. Dan setelah penandatangan kontrak, maka kunci flat ada ditangan kita.

Tapi, ngomong-ngomong, uang deposit apa sih?? Mungkin untuk kita yang belum pernah menyewa tempat tinggal di Singapura akan merasa heran dengan adanya permintaan dari agent property pada kita untuk membayar uang deposit, yang jumlahnya tidaklah sedikit. Uang deposit ini sebenarnya adalah uang jaminan yang diberikan penyewa kepada pemilik flat. Pemilik flat hanya menyimpan uang tersebut, tidak diperbolehkan untuk menggunakan uang deposit ini. Ketika kontrak flat berakhir, maka uang deposit ini akan dikembalikan pada penyewa, dengan catatan tidak ada barang yang rusak didalam flat yang kita sewa.

Bila membaca keterangan diatas, terdengar gampang  untuk menyewa flat di Singapura. Seperti yang telah saya uraikan diatas, bisa dibilang gampang, tapi juga bisa dibilang sulit. Perlu untuk diketahui saja, meskipun pemilik flat sudah ok, agent juga ok, tapi kita harus mendapat approve dari HDB, bahwa kita akan menempati flat yang telah kita pilih. Bila HDB me-reject alias menolak aplikasi kita, dengan sangat terpaksa kita harus mencari flat yang lain. Selain itu, hal lain yang perlu untuk kita perhatikan adalah harga flat yang ditawarkan dengan fasilitas yang diberikan. Tak kalah penting juga, kita mesti berhati-hati dengan agent property, dan pemilik flat (owner).

Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy

Nah, berikut beberapa tips, agar kita bisa menyewa flat dengan harga sesuai, serta terhindar dari beberapa masalah yang mungkin saja bisa ditimbulkan dikemudian hari.

1. Pilih dan lihatlah dengan cermat

Seperti yang telah saya ungkapkan diatas. Langkah awal yang harus kita lakukan adalah melihat-lihat iklan flat yang disewa. Ambil sebanyak-banyaknya, kemudian pilihlah beberapa flat yang sekiranya kita sukai, bisa lima atau tiga flat. Dalam memilih ini, tidak asal memilih lhoo…perhatikan baik-baik iklan disana, cermati baik-baik gambar/ poto-poto ruang flat-nya. Bila tidak ada pot-poto-nya lebih baik tinggalkan saja. Yang tak kalah penting, baca deskripsinya dengan benar, apakah dekat dengan sarana transportasi (bis, atau kereta), apakah dekat dengan pasar, juga tempat makan (hawker), serta pertimbangkan juga jarak antara flat dengan lokasi kerja, juga lokasi sekolah (bila telah memiliki anak-anak).

2. Perhatikan fasilitasnya

Setelah memilih flat yang akan kita sewa, pastinya kita akan melihat-lihat flat-nya bukan??…Disinilah kita harus cermat dan teliti ketika melihat flat-nya. Perhatikan baik-baik, apakah fasilitas yang diberikan sesuai dengan iklannya, cek semuanya. Misal, seperti fasilitas kulkas, mesin cuci, meja makan, AC, dan lain-lain… Bila disana terdapat banyak barang selain barang fasilitas yang disebutkan dalam iklan, jangan sungkan untuk  menanyakan pada si agent, apakah itu barang si  owner/ pemilik flat, atau tenant (penyewa) sebelum kita maupun tenant yang masih menempati flat tersebut. Bila ternyata terlalu banyak barang yang dititipkan si owner di flat yang akan kita sewa, bila saya yang dihadapkan pada hal ini, maka saya memilih untuk tidak menyewa flat tersebut. Kenapa?? Karena saya fokus pada fasilitas utama, dan tidak mau direpotkan untuk mengurusi maupun mengawasi barang pemilik flat. Selain itu, flat akan terasa sempit bila sudah terlebih dulu terdapat barang-barang si pemilik flat.

3. Kondisi Flat

Perhatikan kondisi flat yang akan kita sewa. Ingat, bahwa menyewa flat di Singapura itu mahal. Ya, property di Singapura harganya sangat mahal. Maka, kita harus menetapkan sebuah “grade” tinggi, bahwa flat yang akan kita sewa kondisinya bagus dan bersih. Bagus, bagus artinya disini, bahwa barang-barang yang ada (fasilitas) semua dalam kondisi bagus, misal AC menyala, TV menyala dan lain-lain… Bersih, bersih dalam hal ini maksudnya adalah, kondisi flat yang akan kita tempati semuanya bersih dan rapi, cat dinding masih bagus (lebih bagus bila cat dindingnya baru), lantai bersih keramik atau marmer, kondisi dapur rapi dengan adanya kitchen set, terlebih kamar mandi harus bersih. Untuk saya pribadi, hal pertama yang akan saya lihat adalah kondisi kamar mandi dan toilet, bila kondisi kamar mandi dan toilet bersih, maka yang lain menyusul.

4. Tanyakan license si agent property

tanyakan pada si agent, apakah si agent property tersebut punya license yang masih berlaku. Bila iya, maka mintalah untuk menunjukkan pada kita. Bila si agent tidak memiliki license, atau tidak bisa  menunjukkan license-nya sebagai agent, maka stop sampai disitu saja. Cari flat sewa yang lain, yang ditangani oleh agent property yang memiliki license. License agent property ini berlaku untuk satu tahun, bila masa berlaku license si agent property ini habis, maka ia akan melakukan tes lagi demi mendapatkan license lagi. Brdasarkan pengalaman, akan lebih baik memilih flat yang ditangani oleh satu agent property.

5. Tanyakan "kondisi" pemilik rumah

jangan sungkan menanyakan pada agent property tentang "kondisi" si pemilik flat (owner). Agent property yang baik akan mengenal dengan baik si owner, dan akan dengan gamblang menjelaskan pada kita tentang si pemilik flat. Misal, si agent property akan memberitahu pada kita bahwa pemilik flat ini adalah orang tua, single, punya anak atau tidak, dan sekarang tinggal dengan anaknya atau tinggal dipanti jompo, dan lain-lain.. Artinya adanya keterbukaan. Kita-pun sama, kita akan ditanyai dimana asal kita, lokasi kerja kita, pekerjaan kita, atau akan tinggal berapa orang didalam flat tersebut. Harap maklum, karena ada penyewa flat yang “nakal” juga, flat dijadikan pusat rumah bisnis, atau ada juga penyewa flat yang menyewakan salah satu kamar didalam flat. Hal ini adalaha perbuatan ilegal.

6. Tanyakan umur gedung-nya

Tanyakan berapa usia gedung flat tersebut. Bila umurnya masih berkisaran minimal 30 tahun, maka masih ok-lah kita menyewa flat tersebut. Namun bila usia gedung itu sendiri sudah mencapai kurang lebih hampir 50 tahun, maka lebih baik carilah tempat sewa flat yang lain. Kenapa demikian?? Karena pemerintah Singapura akan mengambil alih gedung-gedung yang sudah “berumur”. Sementara warganya (Singaporeans) mendapatkan flat pengganti, nah giliran kita sebagai penyewa mau tidak mau ya harus pindah. Buat saya perkara seperti ini sangatlah merepotkan harus pindah-pindah flat.

7. Besaran uang deposit

Ketika kita “deal”, ok dengan salah satu flat, maka kita diminta untuk membayar uang deposit. Uang deposit adalah sebesar satu bulan sewa flat tersebut. Bila si agent property meminta uang deposit lebih dari satu bulan sewa flat, maka batalkan saja. Mintalah penjelasan sejelas-jelasnya tentang peraturan uang deposit. Yang paling penting adalah kepastian bahwa uang deposit itu akan kembali pada kita setelah kontrak selesai, dengan catatan tidak ada barang/ fasilitas yang rusak, misal TV rusak. Untuk lebih kuatnya, pastikan peraturan tentang uang deposit itu ada dalam surat kontrak sewa-menyewa yang kita tanda tangani bersama agent property serta pemilik flat. Catatan, simpan baik-baik bukti pembayaran uang deposit, dan mintalah surat kontrak perjanjian sewa-menyewa yang asli. Pemilik flat pegang surat kontrak asli, begitupun kita. Jangan mau bila hanya diberi soft copy.

8. Besaran agent fee

Untuk pembayaran agent fee, saya dan suami akan lebih suka bila agent fee ini ditanggung oleh pemilik flat. Pemilik flat-lah yang membayar agent fee bukan kita. Namun bila kita yang menanggung biaya agent fee, pastikan besarannya sesuai dengan aturan standart yaitu setengah dari sewa flat perbulan untuk satu tahun kontrak flat, dan satu kali sewa flat (sebulan sewa flat) untuk kontrak flat dua tahun. Bila ada agent property yang meminta lebih dari itu, batalkan saja kotrak sewanya, cari flat yang lain.

Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy

Inilah catatan dari saya, beberapa tips dalam mencari flat yang akan kita sewa di Singapura. Semua yang ada dalam tulisan ini adalah berdasarkan pengalaman. Mungkin ada kawan sekalian yang memiliki pengalaman yang berbeda dalam mencari sewa flat di Singapura. Dan saya percaya pengalaman setiap orang akan berbeda-beda. Buat kami (saya dan suami), semua urusan  harus jelas sesuai dengan ketentuan dan peraturan yang berlaku, termasuk urusan sewa-menyewa flat ini. Taat pada aturan pemerintah setempat, agar kita bisa tinggal dengan tenang dan damai di negeri Singapura.

Kunjungi juga artikel terkait:

1. seperti apa sih didalam flat atau HDB apartment, apa saja fasilitasnya dengan harga sewa hampir 20 juta per bulan. Link-nya disini https://acikmdy-journey.blogspot.com/2019/11/seperti-apa-sih-hdb-apartment-di.html

2. Biaya hidup di Singapura (update 2019), baca artikelnya disini https://acikmdy-journey.blogspot.com/2019/09/biaya-hidup-di-singapura-update.html

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions 

Going Trip To Yogyakarta, These are the Hotels That I Recommend For You

 

Where will you go on holiday this year?? Are you planning to go to somewhere to escape from your daily routine?? Well, if you’re planning to go to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, you must look for where  you’ll stay, right?? Don’t go wrong with this, or your holiday will become a nightmare. So these are the hotels that I would like to recommend to you guys….

This is just my experience when we went for holiday and choose a hotel. And I love to share with you about my journey on this place, Yogyakarta-Indonesia. So if you don’t know anything about Yogyakarta, You can remember this, “Yogyakarta is culture city”. That’s it?? Yeah, sure…!! And many times we went to this city. So that is why I can share about hotels which you can choose for your holiday in this city

A hotel is a very important thing when we go for a trip, right??… Oh I got bad experience about hotel guys… One day when we planned to holiday, we chose a wrong hotel. Why?? First, we didn’t have much time to book a hotel. Second, we were fine with the hotel pictures. So what happened at that time?? That hotel got a problem with a water support, very dirty bathroom, bedroom is dirty, horrible swimming pool, horrible breakfast, etc. So we checked out as fast as we can and took back our money. What does that mean??  Find a better hotel, and you will happy. Don’t make your holiday a mess!

• KAMPOENG DJAWA GUESTHOUSE

Kampoeng Djawa Guesthouse is on Jalan Prawirotaman I/ 40, Yogyakarta-Indonesia. Don’t worry…when you first landed on Yogyakarta airport, just take a cab. All of cab driver knows Jalan Prawirotaman, and of course they know this hotel. Just ask to the driver where will you go, and they will take you to the Kampoeng Djawa Guesthouse’s door step

If I can say, Kampoeng Djawa Guesthouse is small hotel guys with small garden and the bird… But, something you must know, this hotel is so much comfortable, although they don’t have any swimming pool. The room is very clean and you will be happy staying in this hotel. Their service is very good! Breakfast and afternoon tea, you will enjoy every minute of your time…  Why?? Sometimes they serve traditional food for breakfast. And yeah…on afternoon tea they serve Javanese traditional cakes, with…traditional tea pot set   oh I like that!!

See on my pictures…this is one nice hotel, right?? Ethnic classic design, traditional Javanese house. Maybe you’ll never feel if you are staying in hotel. Wood everywhere, I think the best wood guys… Look at their wardrobe, even the chairs, or the table is all wood. And look…how beautiful their bathroom, I love it!

How about the price??? Don’t worry… It’s quite cheap hotel. In 2013 we checked in to this hotel, a room with air-con was about IDR 200.000; and a room with fan was about IDR 160.000; and yeah…you will be surprised that they have couple of rooms for backpackers, as you know guys…it’s cheaper than both rooms. Which one you like, it’s up to you…

• RENGGANIS HOTEL

So, if you know Kampoeng Djawa Guesthouse, you must also need to know Rengganis Hotel. They are both under the same management. But, Rengganis Hotel has many rooms, with many price level, plus…swimming pool. Rengganis Hotel is located at Ngadinegaran MJ III/133, Yogyakarta-Indonesia. Take a cab and ask to the driver where will you go, and they will take you on this place.

Like Kampoeng Djawa Guesthouse, Rengganis Hotel is ethnic classic hotel concept. See…it looks like a Javanese traditional house. And one thing, many plants in this hotel, and I like that!! I feel fresh with the air, and nice looking all over around. Besides, we can go to swim. And yeah, Rengganis Hotel has small bar It’s not only bar, you can order foods or drinks in their restaurant in the middle. You can taste some of traditional foods like soto (chicken soup with glass noodle) and sate (chicken barbeque in stick). Or…you can try to drink some kind a traditional drinking, like wedang jahe (ginger tea drink). How about breakfast?? Oh of course…this hotel serves for you. Many kind of breakfast foods they serve, like scramble egg or omelette (serves by request), traditional foods like soto, bubur kerik, nasi goreng (changing everyday), and bread

How about their rooms?? Don’t worry guys…their service was like a 3 star hotel. You know what I mean is?? It means, their service is good!! The room is very clean and cozy, and bathroom, it is a clean bathroom. After going around in this city, maybe go to the Sultan Castle, Water Castle, you can sleep well and comfortable at night.

When you look at my pictures, guess it, is that quite an expensive hotel??… Rengganis Hotel has many rooms, like standard room, superior room, deluxe room, Backpacker room (one room for some people) etc. Every single room has different price. If you choose deluxe room, of course it’s expensive. When you choose superior room, the price must be lower than deluxe room. How much?? Last year we stayed in this hotel. The price is good for our money

These are two hotels that I recommend for you if…you’re planning to visit Yogyakarta on your holiday. Don’t take any longer to think, because…these hotels are always full booked. Favorite hotels guys… Good price and you will be satisfied with their services

Note :

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions

Under Heavy Rain, They Said “Thank You”

On the day, it was Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s State Funeral. The day was on March 29 2015 (yeah, it was just last week). This was the last day of Mr. Lee’s funeral, which will begin from Parliament House to the University Cultural Centre (UCC) at the National University of Singapore. You know guys… It was heavy rainy day. Even if it was rainy day, but it did not deter Singaporeans to get out and stand along the road to pay respect and say “thank you”.

It was rainy day on Sunday morning last week ago. The rain begun at 10am, and wasn’t stopped. It looked like the sky feel the sadness as Singaporeans too. That the day, it was important day, a farewell to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. For the last time…yeah it’s the last time to say goodbye to Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. He passed away on Monday (March 23, 2015) in the National University Hospital.

He was the first Singapore’s Prime Minister (1959-1999). And he was MP (Member of Parliament) until his last breath. He was the nation’s longest-serving MP. Yeah, He was MP in where I live now (Tanjong Pagar MP). His life is for Singapore. Who don’t know him?? Every single Singaporeans recognize him as the Father’s State. Few years ago, one of Singaporeans told me, Lee Kuan Yew is a good man. He brought good life for Singapore and Singaporeans. He worked hard for this country (Singapore).

At 12.30pm, on Sunday last week, my husband told me to come quick to get down on the street to join with another. He turned on TV and watched gun carriage procession, and it was making its way to Parliament House. Since it was Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s last journey to the University Culture Centre at the National University of Singapore, and we weren’t able to go to the Parliament House, so to pay respect to him, we joined with another Singaporeans, down the street.

At the same time, The Singapore Navy honoured him with a ceremonial sail past in the water off the Marina Barrage. And we saw on TV, Armed forces paid tribute to Mr Lee, four ceremonial 25-pounder guns fired 21 gun salute. My husband said, Air Force flew on the air to honour Mr Lee too, formed a Missing Man formation. From our flat, we just heard air plane engine roaring.  Four RSAF Black Knights flew overhead, due to heavy rain and low clouds.

I saw many people in corridor and the street. it was so crowded, elderly, young people, even kids, they were going down on the street where Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s body on vehicle with gun carriage pass by. You can’t imagine it, it was heavy rain. Like as many people, we prepared to wear ponchos and brought umbrella. We walked through the crowds. Finally, we found a space and waited for Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s gun carriage.

We aren’t Singaporeans. But why, we joined with another Singaporeans in there… For us, Mr Lee Kuan Yew is a great man, and great father to the nation. He brought Singapore changed into a modern city and good wealth for his people. Yes, he was an architect of wealth. I watched on TV, how he fought and struggled for his country and his people. Just ask Singaporeans (especially elderly man and woman), they know all everything about Singapore in the past. What is the point for us?? He was one of the inspiring person in the world. We can learn from him, we must strive forward for a better future, become strong and do good for our country. For example, we have to study hard, never give up for our dream, and do positive things for our country, even if it is only small things.

Finally, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s gun carriage came. Shouts of “Lee Kuan Yew!” rang out. I bowed to him and say “goodbye, rest in peace Mr Lee”. And so is people around us, I saw them bow and said “thank you”. Their face looks sad. The carriage went faster, but it was more than enough to catch a glimpse of a moment of  Mr Lee Kuan Yew for the last time. And State funeral procession waited for him in the National Culture Centre at the National University of Singapore. Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s State funeral was going at 2pm until 5pm. We watched it on TV. At 4.35pm, the nationwide emergency alarm sound was heard twice to honour Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Good bye Mr Lee Kuan Yew, you are great man and great father. Rest in peace…

Note :

• Photographed by Rdz (except the third and last pictures)
• Third and the last pictures from Google
• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions (Except Pictures from Google)

Hinamatsuri, The Meaning Behind The Dolls

Hinamatsuri also called Japanese Dolls Festival. If you have daughter, it’s a special day, called it Girl’s Day. As you know, girl is always loves dolls. That’s why, dolls is displayed in every single home in Japan when the time comes to celebrate this festival. Beside houses, shrines displaying it too. They are not only just dolls guys… It’s meaningful. So… these are the meanings behind the dolls…

On February 8, my friend posted some of doll pictures. At the time, I thought it was very beautiful. I asked her, about that pictures, and she told me many things. Yeah, it was on Hinamatsuri or Japanese Dolls Festival, falls annually on March 3. It’s wishes for all of girls that will grow up healthy and happy. Japanese people believed, the dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirit. My friend said, the dolls are like human, and they takes bad luck from the girl. Stars to display on February and take them down immediately after festival. If leaving the dolls past March 4 will result in a late marriage for daughter.

See on these pictures that my friend made…looks beautiful, right??…. The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period. I remember, at the time I asked to my friend?? “…is that king and queen…”… And my friend said “yes”. It’s representing Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musician in traditional court dress of the Heian period. And…platforms covered with a red carpet! Wow, kore wa subarashii desune!! I like that!

These are the meaning behind the dolls, yeah…I read it before on Google … Look on my friend picture, it’s seven-tiered Hina doll set (correct Miyu-san??..). The top, first platform, there are the Emperor doll and  Empress doll. These dolls are usually placed in front of a gold screen. And I saw lampstands beside the Emperor and Empress dolls. And yeah… the Empress doll holding a fan. That looks great, I like these dolls…

The second platform, there are three court ladies. The middle lady is the seated sake bearer. Do you see that on that picture guys…. I think you can see it, right??… And how about another lady whose standing on the right and left side..?? The right lady is a long-handled sake bearer, and the left is the back up sake-bearer. And you see on that picture, between these ladies any “something” looks like a table. Yeah, it’s around table guys… What is that on the top of round table, the colour looks nice and sweet, it’s a hishimochi (sweets ) guys… Do you like sweets, huh?? I think I like sweets

The third platform, there are palace traditional musician, consist of five male. As you see on my friend’s pictures, each holds musical instrument, such as small drum, large drum, hand drum, and flute. And of course it’s including the singer who hold the fan. And see that picture once again…can you see the differences?? I saw two dolls displayed higher that another. What does that mean?? It means, they are standing, and they holds large drum, and hand drum. And so is the singer, the singer is standing and holding folding fan sensu.

Fourth platform, there are two ministers. Young minister on the right side is Udaijin, and much older minister on the left side is Sadaijin. How I know which one younger minister and older minister… That’s easy, ‘cause I saw their hair colour You see, huh??..Any others else in this platform??..Yeah there are some kind of table. That’s right!! I saw on that picture is some kind like table with a bowl on top of it, and another tables looks like sweets (hishimochi), sorry if I was wrong…

Fifth platform, as you see on picture…on the right side it’s a plant, called it a cherry blossom tree (sakon no sakura) I like this flower so much and the other side, it means left side is a mandarin orange tree (ukon no tachibana). But, I am little confused ‘cause when I read on google, the right side is a mandarin orange tree, and the left side is cherry bloosom tree. But forget it… Between these plants are three samurai as the protector of the Emperor and Empress. And these are their names that I have read from google

• Maudlin drinker nakijōgo
• Cantankerous drinker okorijōgo
• Merry drinker waraijōgo

Sixth platform, there are many kind items. As you see by these picture…But I tell you what I got by reading. This is it, smaller chothing storage box (hasamibako), sewing kit box (haribako), two hibachi, cha no yu dōgo, kyōdai (mirror stand) but I wasn’t saw this on my friend picture, nagamochi (long chest for kimono storage), tansu (chest of srawers). And the last platform, means seven platform, there are some items too. They are Jubako (stiff handle that locks them together), gokago (palanquin), goshoguruma (an ox-drawn carriage favoured by Heian nobility), hanaguruma (an ox-drawing a cart of flowers).

Note :

• Photographed by Miyu Nakai
• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
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The House of Raminten, a House of Traditional Javanese Foods

What kind of house is this??… This is special house guys… the place where you can find traditional Javanese foods in Yogyakarta-Indonesia. So, do you like traditional foods, or are you very interesting with traditional foods?? Don’t take any longer guys… If you are visiting Yogyakarta for your holiday, come and visit this house, and you’ll get crazed in there ‘Cause they serve many kind of traditional Javanese foods, and… they looks great and tasty. Honestly, I miss this place every year

When we spent our holiday in Yogyakarta last year, we visited this place. Yeah… many times we have visited Yogyakarta-Indonesia, but only that time we went to the House of Raminten. The first time we went for dinner, and the second time we went for lunch. But…I recommend you, I think it’ll be a good time to go in there for dinner. ‘Cause on night, this place looks romantic and looks cosy It’s just what I feel….

We went to Malioboro at the evening before dinner time. Took a little time to walk around. Malioboro is one of the famous places for tourists in Yogyakarta-Indonesia. Yeah…but I’m not gonna talk about Malioboro in this article (sorry…in another time maybe). We took a taxi to go there. Actually, there are many transportations in Yogyakarta city, like a bus, trishaw, andhong (traditional transportation). We just knew The House of Raminten’s address, and we’d like to take a taxi. Yeah House of Raminten that we visited in Jalan Fardinan Muridan Noto No. 7 Gondo Kusumanan, Kota Baru, Yogyakarta. I was forgot how much we paid for taxi, but it was little cheaper when you are going with another friends

When we arrived, there are two of dragons in gate. Wow!! We were shocked! Why?? it’s very crowded, many peoples! We came in to the receptionist, register our name, and got a queue number. After registering, we wait until they call our name to go inside. One tips for you guys…if you are visiting this place, don’t come in a big group, plan max 4 person. Why?? Because when you come with a big group, you’ll be “sand man”. At that time, we registered for three persons, and we were queuing for 30 minutes for our table, and 1 hour to wait our foods 

I hate waiting time! So what can we do??.. Yeah…we walked around, bought some box of Bakpias and ate it. Do you know Bakpia Raminten Jogja is?? Bakpia is one of traditional grilled cake, filled with green bean. Or…you can buy some Raminten merchandises, like T-shirts, mugs, caps. Or…you can leave some comment about this place But…I’d love to take some Raminten cards! I think it’s unique and nice cards. You can take these cards freely!! Yeah…it’s free guys… When you see these cards, you will see who is the person behind The House of Raminten, the place where you can find traditional Javanese foods. Every single time, when I look at these cards now, I miss this place sooo much, I miss traditional Javanese foods. It looks like a male person on these cards, but why he dress up like a Javanese women in old time??…  He is a actor on stage guys… And Raminten is his name and character on stages. You can see his show in the Mirota Batik 3rd floors by free Mirota Batik’s adrress is Jalan Jenderal Ahmad Yani No. 9 Gondomanan, Yogyakarta-Indonesia (you can find it in Malioboro).

Finally, a receptionist called one of our name! The waitress took us to our table, and our table was on second floors. The design House of Raminten is unique guys…. It looks like a traditional Javanese house, everywhere is wood and wood. I like that!! And so is their waitresses, they were wearing traditional Javanese clothes. Wow!! I were very amused. And yeah…we sit on the floor (with carpet), looks like Japanese people at the moment Yeah…this is the real Javanese people guys… But one things that I hate so much, when we ate, many people smoked around us I think it would be good if  there is any room or area for smoking, or if you come here and really want to smoke, just get outside.

Many menus in The House of Raminten guys… I can’t tell you one by one. Wow…that really…really completely traditional Javanese menus. We ordered some menus that is our favourite foods. There were nasi kucing (I don’t know what you call is in English I think it spelled like “cat rice”), clam satay, golden snail satay, penyet, fried rice, es tape ketan ijo (fermented glutinous rice), cendhol, and many others….!! But for me, something special is nasi kucing. Why?? What is that kind of foods??… Don’t tell me you have visited Yogyakarta if you never had tried this menu. This is just a tiny portion, just a handful of food, consist of small portion of rice, omelette, anchovies sambal,  and sambal (tranditional Indonesia sauce). If you are stiil hungy, don’t worry, there many kind traditional Javanese foods waiting for you And so sorry we didn’t taken a food  picture while we ate, ‘cause we were exausted and tooo hungy! But sure..when you search on Google “The House of Raminten”, the menu will show up!

How about the price?? Don’t worry, it’s cheaper more than you’ve ever thought (trust me!). You just see menu, look the price, which one you want just choose it and the waitress will write your order and they will give you the bill on your table, pay on your table, before your foods comes. When your foods comes, enjoy your time. Even if there are cheaper price, but they give us delicious food. And we miss it so much! Believe it, we will come again, and again when we are visiting Yogyakarta-Indonesia in another time.

This is my story when we were visiting The House of Raminten in Yogyakarta-Indonesia. Yogyakarta is one of my favourite city to spent my holiday. And one of my favourite place to find delicious food is The House of Raminten

Note :

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Photographed by Rdz
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions