Visa Jepang & Aturan Hotel Berbintang di Jepang

Lebaran 2013 sy dan famili berwisata ke Jepang... Benar2 sebuah wisata yang menguras hati, jiwa, raga, dan dompet :p (sebelum berangkat, hari-H, selama wisata, dan sekembalinya sy ke tanah air). Postingan kali ini sy ingin share mengenai persiapan paling dasar untuk anda yang mau berwisata ke Jepang, melalui tour, atau para pemburu tiket murah meriah.

Syarat pengajuan visa Jepang:

Form Aplikasi Visa halaman-1

Halaman-2

1. Paspor yang masih berlaku minimal 7 bulan (&paspor lama).
2. Surat sponsor dengan kop surat. Hal ini bertujuan sebagai jaminan bahwa anda wisatawan Jepang, memiliki dana yang cukup dan dipastikan akan kembali ke negara asal saat wisata anda selesai. Misalnya yang bekerja kantoran, maka memakai kop surar milik kantor yang menyatakan anda karyawan sah & masih aktif dan menjamin diri sendiri, bahwa akan pulang setelah wisata selesai.
3. SIUP.
4. TDP.
5. Bukti keuangan 3bulan terakhir, misalnya rekening koran / tabungan minimal 50 juta per orang, baik atas nama individu / perusahaan. Jadi jika anda seorang suami dengan istri non-pekerja & 2 orang anak yang masih bersekolah, maka bukti keuangan anda adalah minimal 200 juta.
Mohon diingat, jika anda ingin mensiasati aturan ini, dengan memindah setoran sebesar nominal itu jangan lakukan penyetoran di hari2 yg berdekatan dan dalam jumlah besar sekaligus, karena pihak konjen akan mencurigai tabungan anda adalah fiktif. Misalnya 2 Agustus 50juta, 3/850juta, 5/8 50juta, 7/8 50juta. Maka besae kemungkinan syarat ini anda pasti gagal.
6. KTP, kartu keluarga, akta kelahiran, akta nikah, & surat ganti nama jika nama tercantum di paspor berbeda dengan di akta lahir.
7. Untuk pelajar ataupun mahasiswa, menyertakan surat dari sekolah / kampus yang menyatakan bahwa anda adalah pelajar / mahasiswa sah & masih aktif di sekolah/kampus tersebut.
8. Foto terbaru, background putih,  4.5 x 4.5 cm, 2 lembar.
9. Print out tiket pesawat & konfirmasi hotel.
10. Mengisi & tandatangan formulir pengajuan visa (seperti foto di atas).
11. Mengisi rinci formulir Jadwal Perjalanan (seperti foto di bawah ini).

Itinerary

Checklist kelengkapan dokumen pengajuan visa (bagian-1)

Checklist (bagian-2)

Berikut adalah kelengkapan dokumen yang harus dilampirkan, berdasarkan checklist Konjen Jepang: (harus disusun sesuai urutan ke bawah, saat anda mengajukannya)

1. Paspor

2. Form permohonan visa & pas foto (tanpa topi / bayangan)
3. KTP asli & fotokopi
4. Fotokopi Kartu Keluarga
5. Fotokopi Kartu Mahasiswa / surat keterangan belajar (lokasi pendidikan: ASEAN)
6. Bukti pemesanan tiket pulang - pergi
7. Jadwal perjalanan rinci, mulai pertama masuk hingga keluar dari Jepang
8. Daftar peserta tur & brosur acara tur
9. Dokumen yang membuktikan hubungan keluarga antara pengundang & pemohon
10. Dokumen yang berkenaan dengan pengundang, misalnya foto / surat
11. Fotokopi dokumen yang bisa menunjukkan hubungan pengundang dengan pemohon, misalnya Kartu Keluarga, Akte Keluarga, Buku Nikah
12. Fotokopi dokumen status izin tinggal anggota keluarga pemohon berkewarganegaraan Jepang berdomisili di Indonesia (KITAS)
13. Dokumen bukti hubungan keluarga antara pemohon & anggota keluarga warga negara Jepang yang berdomisili di Indonesia (fotokopi "Kosekitohan", fotokopi buku nikah / akte nikah)
14. Surat keterangan bekerja
15. Surat undangan
16.1. Bagi pemohon visa:

     16.1.1 Fotokopi bukti keuangan 3 bulan terakhir

     16.1.2. Surat dari kantor tempat pemohon bekerja, yang menjelaskan tujuan kunjungan ke Jepang

16.2. Bagi pengundang:

     16.2.1. Surat Jaminan (untuk menjamin pemohon)

     16.2.2. Surat keterangan pembayaran pajak ("Nouzei Shomeisho")

     16.2.3. Surat pemberitahuantahunan (SPT) ("Kakuteishinkokusho Hikae")

     16.2.4. Surat penghasilan ("Shotoku Shomeisho")

     16.2.5. Surat referensi bank ("zandaka-shomei")

     16.2.6. Fotokopi buku tabungan (3bulan terakhir)

     16.2.7. Surat keterangan kerja (mencantumkan lama bekerja & besarnya penghasilan)

     16.2.8. Surat keterangan domisili pengundang (jika pengundang adalah warga negara asing yang berdomisili di Jepang maka Surat Keterangan Domisili, fotokopi Resident Card, dan paspor harus dilampirkan.

     16.2.9. SIUP ("Tokibotohon") atau profil perusahaan (surat keterangan bekerja bila undangan secara personal)

Turis / pendatang berdasarkan kelengkapan dokumen di checklist konjen Jepang, dikelompokkan menjadi 6 tipe, yaitu: tujuan wisata, wisata grup tur, kunjungan bisnis, kunjungan keluarga, keluarga warga negara Jepang (domisili di Indonesia), kunjungan teman.

Dokumen untuk masing - masing tipe turis:
- Tujuan wisata: dokumen no.1-7, 11, 16.1.1
- Wisata grup tur: dokumen no.1-6, 8, 11, 16.1.1
- Kunjungan bisnis: dokumen no.1-7, 14, 15, 16.2.9.
- Kunjungan keluarga: dokumen no.1-7, 9, 11, 15, 16.1.1, 16.2.1-7

- Keluarga warga negara Jepang (domisili di Indonesia): dokumen no.1-7, 12, 13, 16.1.1, 16.2.1-2, 16.2.5-7

- Kunjungan teman: dokumen no.1-7, 10, 11, 14, 16.1.1, 16.2.1-8.

Form - form di atas bisa di-download di: Konjen Jepang.

Saat anda mengajukan seluruh form2 tersebut ke konjen Jepang, anda akan menerima kertas tanda terima. Jangan sampai kertas ini hilang karena ansa harus membawanya saat mengambil paapor anda. Cek isinya, dan yang terpenting tanggal keluarnya visa.

Aturan singkat hotel berbintang di Jepang:
1. Televisi. Kebanyakan tv di hotel jepang memiliki fasilitas "Pay Movie"  (biasanya film2 khusus dewasa, tv luar negeri yang populer -di luar Jepang- maka anda jangan sampai salah pencer tombol! Karena akan langsung masuk dalam tagihan kamar anda.
2. Para mama, mohon kurangi semangat '45 anda untuk bersih2 (a.k.a mencuci pakaian) karena hotel2 berbintang di Jepang akan mengenakan biaya tambahan yang cukup tinggi, jika ditemukan bercak (sebagai akibat menjemur cucian) pada lampu & kap lampu kamar. (Maupun di tempat2 lainnya).
3. Jangan pernah membasahi karpet kamar, karena anda akan dikenai biaya tambahan. Misalnya ketika anda mandi, karena beberapa hotel berbintang di Jepang ada yang berkarpet di area wastafel, ada juga yang lantai kamar mandinya selantai dengan lantai kamar. Atau mungkin jika anda minum air, jangan tumpah, terutama jika karper bisa membekas, atau jika anda minum jus / makanan / apapun yang sekiranya bisa menimbulkan bercak / bekas / basah pada karpet.
4. Anda yang mudah penasaran atau selalu ingin tahu, atau anak anda yang masih kecil, perlu diperhatikan bahwa beberapa hotel berbintang di Jepang pada fasilitas mini bar & kulkasnya memiliki sensor. Sehingga meskipun anda tidak meminum minuman kalengan yang ada, tapi anda sudah mengangkatnya dari posisi semula, maka kemungkinan besar harga minuman tersebut akan masuk dalam tagihan kamar anda. Jadi saran sy, jangan sentuh area kulkas & mini bar anda ^-^
5. NO mineral water! Semua hotel di Jepang tidak menyediakan air mineral dalam botol plastik (a.k.a aqua -biasa kita menyebutnya). Jadi saran sy sebaiknya anda membiasakan diri untuk memasak air kran anda dengan electric kettle yang disediakan hotel atau mengambil fasilitas air minum yang disediakan hotel saat breakfast (kecuali anda bersedia merogoh dompet cukup dalam untuk membeli minuman -minimal 100¥ per botol 500ml) T_T
6. Electric plug / soket / colokan listrik di Jepang adalah 110volt kaki 2 gepeng tipis ( | | ). Jadi sebaiknya anda membawa universal adaptor atau colokan tambahan 2 kaki yang gepeng seperti contoh foto.

Kaki 2 gepeng, bulat, & kaki 3 bulat

Universal adaptor yang sy bawa adalah 3in 1 seperti contoh foto, sy temukan dijual di Ace Hardware merek Krisbow harganya sekitar 150 ribu, di toko listrik daerah Mayjend Sungkono, Surabaya sekitar 50rb, di toko listrik daerah Baliwerti, Surabaya sekitar 35rb....wkwkkwkwkwkkw tentu sy membeli yang termurah. Tetapi entah mengapa atau karena adaptor sy mungkin kualitasnya pas-pasan atau memang colokan Jepang agak rewel, adaptor milik sy selalu tidak bisa menempel sempurna (agak menggantung sedikit) sehingga sy selalu mencari lokasi colokan yang rendah / dekat meja, karena kalau tidak menempel sempurna dan menggantung bisa saja lepas dan jatuh (akibat beban berat charger hp yang menggantung). Namun adaptor saudara sy yang harganya lebih mahal dari milik sy rupanya mengalami hal yang sama. Untungnya sy juga membawa colokan kecil yang khusus kaki 2 gepeng, dan colokan ini justru bisa menempel sempurna...hmmm.... Beli dimana colokan hitam kecil ini? Hmm... sy tidak tahu :D karena sudah ada di rumah sy sejak dulu.

Colokan kaki 2 gepeng

Tips dari sy, beberapa hotel yang menyediakan fasilitas hair dryer, biasanya menyediakan lubang colokan yg berbeda yaitu kaki 2 bulat  ( ● ● ) nah....silahkan coba colokan tersebut karena beberapa charger handphone Indonesia ada yang cocok ada juga yang tidak cocok.

*****

& Sumber info: grup Tour yang sy ikuti

Bandungan & Cathedral Church of Semarang

Retreat House of Elika

This retreat house was located on Sukorini street, in highland area of Bandungan, Semarang. We arrived there about six o'clock at night, and we stayed  there for one night only. For me, The building and the area was so comfortable, so quiet, so peaceful. Since it was located in highland, so the air was still very clear, natural, cool, and the most important was everywhere colored in greeeeeennnn (eehmm.. I meant a lot of plants, tree, and flowers there). ;-)

Entrance way

Its area also very wide and spacious, (even its parking area was very big, I could guarantee that it's enough for minimum 8 bus or minimum 20 cars) with 3 storeys and 60 rooms, separated into some section rooms (I forgot to ask the house manager, how many room sections they have).

Name Board

They named every rooms ( include the hall, meeting room, eating room) with bible name, such as "Betlehem", " Jerusalem", and etc. Our room was located in section Finisea. Forgot to mention that they had 2 ways house's entrance, first, the officially entrance door, and second, entrance door from the side of the house, near the parking area. Well, because we entered the house from the door near the car parked, which was further to reach our room section (compared to, if we entered from the officially entrance door), so we were a bit of getting lost, we did need 3 minutes to find our room.

Main Entrance Door

Side Door

Their room section's way was  a bit alleys-gonna-be, so their stairs & ways a bit confusing especially for a new visitor, like me, we have to turn right / turn left several times, or go up to a small stairs, then continued to the long stairs, and etc, to reach my room section, Fenisia. Such a pity, since the last stairs to my room's floor was too small wide, it wasn't wide enough for safety & not so comfy. Alleys that connected each room was fenced with a-bench-look-alike. I thought that it was very good, because on your free time, if you get bored in your bedroom, you can sit here, enjoy the fresh air, and I am sure that after did this, you'll get a new aquintance, because not so long after you sit there, you'll find some people come along, sit there also...then you may start the conversation to know each other as new friend! #yippiee...!

The Alleys

All room section also provided with a hall area which could be used for meeting, gathering, and even for praying ceremony.

The Hall

Ahh... finally it's time for "Fenisia"! Room section was a-3-floor separately area, consist of 3 or more bedrooms & 3 or more outside bathroom in each floor, with a hall in the 3rd floor. It seems that all bedroom was prepared to be slept for 4 adult, because our bedroom consist of 1 king sized bed, 2 single sized bed, and a cupboard.

Since that there were only 3-outside-shared bathroom to use, with 3 bedrooms (3 or 4 person in each), it means that, it would be a hard competition in the morning & in the afternoon to won the bathroom ^_^ Lucky for us, ours was exactly straight near the bathroom area. So we surely won the bathroom competition everytime.

Shared bathroom

Very comfy, neat, and so cooolllddd (-the water- I mean). The hall area was next to bedrooms area, there they served us with drinking water in a jug  with glasses.

Dinner and the  next day morning breakfast were served in buffet of Indonesian food, in the eating room "Betlehem". For me, their cooking quite good as my expectation. So I should rated them with minimum 3*, okay?

"Betlehem"

Bandungan -Special Food-

Free time at night when we stayed at Retreat House of Elika....HAHAHAHA :P it's time to explore outside the house. When our bus arrived in the Retreat House, it passed through a night road which has so many local food stalls, and what so curious for me was they all had the same name-board where their special menu written there (while it was also the same for all o_O). It was "Serasi Tofu" (-tahu serasi- on Indonesian language) written there.

So after having dinner at "Betlehem" room, about 8 o'clock at night when we able to escape from the tour session in the main hall area, we got out from the house, goin' around, and stopped in the nearest food stall there we asked the seller (a woman) about what Serasi Tofu was. We found the fact that serasi tofu was Bandungan special food, especially at night. Why it named as "Serasi"? Actually it was a brand from a home industry who produced it. They took its name from Semarang's motto "Ungaran Serasi".

Raw Serasi Tofu

After their product became famous, then the other home industry of tofu there used the same brand "Serasi", and now it became as the specialty food at Bandungan. It has two way of cooking, it could be mild-fried (so it was deep fried in the outside, but mild in the inside) or it could be steamed and the rules for enjoy this night food was, it must be complimented with  a hot soy milk. Another preferable way to enjoy it was by dipping it into chili-mix-sweet-soy-sauce, so tofu would taste crunchy (if fried) or smooth (of steam) and sweet but also spicy!

Tempe Gembus

Beside serasi tofu, they also had another special food, they called it as "Tempe Gembus" it's made of soya bean, it was cut into triangle shape, covered with bread-powder, then deep fried them. Hmmm....yummy!!

Our night food

1 pack raw serasi tofu cost Rp.9.000, if it was mild fried ready to eat it would cost  you Rp.13.000. The complimentary drink, 1 glass of soy milk was Rp.3.000, while the chili-mix-sweet-soy-sauce was given for free. Fried ready to eat "tempe gembus" cost you only Rp.5.000. These food was a real out of my expectation, except the "tempe gembus". Serasi tofu for me, it's just an ordinary fried tofu like what my mom always cooked at home. The soy milk also, there was nothing special. The "tempe gembus" was really out of my expectation...from its small shape raw "tempe gembus" it changed into very big, I didn't know why, maybe it depends on the chef cooking ability :), and it tasted really delicious (at least if I compared it with tofu or milk).


Cathedral Church of Semarang
Second day pilgrim trip in Central Java, we visited the Cathedral church of semarang, which was located in Pandanaran street 9th, Central Java, Semarang, only a couple block far from pandanaran gift shop area.

The church inside

It was the biggest & greatest church (especially for Catholic I think..) in Semarang. Unfortunately, when we arrived there, a Catholic wedding ceremony was being held. Actually there's nothing bad from it, but it was because we couldn't explore all of the church area especially the inside part. So we did exploring the outside of the church building area.

Pieta - Per Mariam Ad Jesum

Jesus cross

At the side part of the church, there placed praying area of Jesus Christ (in cross), St.Mary (holding a child) and Pieta "Per Mariam Ad Jesum". It was so crowded there, because all prayer was praying there since they couldn't go inside. Even the candles area became so full of lightning candle that it became hardly for me to put my candle on, there.

Lucky for me.. one of our group member, an old lady told us that she could enter the church even there's a wedding ceremony inside. We tried. We really could enter the church, but as she said before we had to stay on the backside of the church to kept the atmosphere of a-holly-wedding. So we enjoyed the church's inside for only 30 minutes at the back row benches.

Ego Quasi Rosa Plantata Super Rivos Aquarum Eructificavi

"Ego quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum eructificavi" was written on the upperside of the church's front hall. Some people said  that this sentence reffer to bible books of Isaiah 35:2 "It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, that shall see the glory of Lord, and the excellency of our God".

Church's bench

I didn't know whether it was such a coincidence or it's just only my opinion, but when I saw the church's bench ornaments which was look like flowers I connect its ornaments with sentence in the front hall church, because that Isaiah bible book mentioned a word of "blossom". Any other opinion from you, my blog reader? Well, you may commented my posting :)

Right beside the main door of the church, there placed St.Mary holding a child. There we placed our candle on, and pray.

*****

St. Mary Cave (Gua Maria)

Hello! This is my first posting about tourism places of Indonesia, my beloved country #bigsmile!!! :D

Well, let me tell you something, I ever once post a Blackberry Messenger status for this trip, without having a thought that it would be happened, and it's not only one place that I can visited, but four in a row!! Hahahahaaa>.<

Actually it's kind of a pilgrim trip that I joined into. I could say that is such a luck for me, to have a chance to join this trip, with a group of people from a Catholic Church in my city, with my friends. This trip destination was a 2-days-trip around Central Java Province of Indonesia, and a bus went around with us. In that 2 days we visited some Catholic tourism destination around Central Java, it is: St. Mary Cave Getasan "Pereng", St. Mary Cave Ambarawa "Kerep", Cathedral Church of Semarang City, St. Mary Cave Juwana "Ratu Rosari", and St. Mary Cave Sendanghardjo. A trip without any souvenir to bring home?? Ohh..come on! Luckily we were served with a-3-hours-journey in all gift shop in the Street of Pandanaran, in Semarang city #thanksGOD! Eventhough that 3-hours was not enough for shopping...and that's why I even had no picture of them or story to tell..because I was too busy to shopping & queue in the cashier line #Oh..DearWoman!!

St. Mary Cave Getasan "Pereng"

This is our first stop, with such a tiring-body-not-sleeping-well-in-the-bus, and a-shaking-sick-tummy, but I did really try my best to enjoy every spot!

sign board

This St.Mary Cave was located in Street of Salatiga-Kopeng Km.10 RT.01 / RW.02, Getasan, Salatiga, Central Java, Indonesia. Photo above is the main street near the location, where all visitors's vehicle parked away (also our bus). From the sign board, there was a small junction to the right, with such a village-non-paving-road straight to the location, (well eventhough the road near the location was already paved properly), about 10 minutes down-walking. There we found a lot of local people selling souvenirs, local food, and etc on the side of the village-road, for which I wasn't brave enough to take their stalls picture without buying anything from them...hahahahaaa...#ShameOnMe

down-walking-paving-road

I was quite amazed with the landscape, as a person that never visit a St.Mary cave before, I was so full-of spirit to take a picture (of my self :)) and the spots there), but the true nature must be fulfilled first, hahahaha, restrooms! While we were looking for the nearest restrooms, we found one of the stop for "Station of The Cross", a slope with some tap-source-water stick on it and a cave of a source-water with a man that ready to help us taking the source-water.

That red is one of the station of the cross stop

From the toilet, first thing I'd like to do was to try, or at least see what was "source-water" actually like. So, what I saw there, they served us with 2 optional source of water, first was the slope, it had some tap sticks on it, what I saw there was, people showered their hands or legs, or their face with the source water from the tap. Second, near that slope there was a small cave with a glass door in front of it, and a man stood there helping us taking the source water with a long-handle-bowl.

Source-water cave

the slope with taps

Me, myself, off course did the same as other people there, my hands, legs, face, and a bottle of drinking water was ready on their place!

What dissapointed me the most, was the fact that it was suddenly raining while we were had a holy mass, and in that moment I haven't had taken any closer photo of the Station of the Cross's stop and also the picture of St.Mary Cave closer.. huffft... :'(

St.Mary Cave Pereng Getasan

St.Mary Cave Getasan Pereng

Well, above, was the nearest spot where I can take the St.Mary Cave photo, with a zoom menu from my mobile-phone camera, a minute before holy mass was held, and a minute before the rain was falling #thanksGod.

St.Mary Cave "Kerep" Ambarawa

Our second location is a St.Mary Cave in Ambarawa city. I'm sure that "Ambarawa" word itself must be familiar for all Indonesian, because Ambarawa city often mentioned in our school's history of Indonesia's book as a city where "Ambarawa war" was happened in past time where all Indonesian fight for their freedom and an independence of our country, Indonesia.

This St.Mary Cave was located in the Street of Mgr.Soegijapranata 56th (Panjang, Ambarawa) Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. I wasn't sure why, but our bus (and the other group bus also) stopped quite far away from the location, hmmm... maybe the road to the location wasn't big enough for a big vehicle like bus. So the bus parked near the  citizen-paid-car station (well, in Indonesian language, we called them 'angkot' or 'angkutan-umum'), then everyone was told to take a ride with those citizen-paid-car and go to the location. This car maximum capacity was 11 adult, so we have to paid the driver total amount of money Rp.22.000.,- which is each person was Rp.2000.,-, and if the car that we took wasn't full capacity enough, well everyone inside the car -off course- have to paid the full amount. It takes about 10 minutes to the location from their station.

citizen-paid-car or 'angkot'

When we arrived there, we saw a lot of stalls outside the location entrance, they sells snack, like thin-slice-potatoes-stick-barbeque-flavoured (I forgot to take the photo, it's about Rp.5000.,-) and Catholic souvenirs like picture of Jesus Christ, St.Mary, or  Rosario. There were also some stalls & local people selling flowers. We, visitors were welcomed with a big wonderful painting of St.Mary in front of the entrance.

They had some kind of gate at the entrance with "Per Mariam Ad Jesum" written there, which meant was "through St.Mary, we found Jesus" and a blue board written with some rules for the visitors, just an ordinary rules, like dress & act politely, stay calm, no shouting, and etc.

the gate entrance view

the gate exit view

First what we saw there, was a triangle-shape-building with a cross in the front side, according to the building models I would thought that it might be a church, but because our destination there was the St.Mary Cave, so we didn't walk straight forward, but we turn right. (I didn't upload its photo in this post, because the light wasn't so good, the sun was on my back, so the photo was too dark to describe the building, so I deleted the photo from my mobile-phone picture folder) There, in the junction I found a nice photo spot, some kind of an area-segregation with "Hail Mary" in big bold silver font written there and a statue of St.Mary with a sheep, unfortunately maybe because I was too busy take a picture of myself there, I took its photo by a quick move only, so the photo result wasn't so good to describe the place :(

Hail Mary

View of this location was more modernized compare to the first St.Mary Cave, maybe Getasan's St.Mary Cave showed something more naturally compare to Ambarawa. I had this opinion from seeing their way to the St.Mary Cave.

But it's in contrast to the donation box (by the way, got a question to ask, "Have U donate today??") The donation box, it was far too simple, and for me its more look a like a dustbin...Oh My God! I'm so sorry! and to made sure, that it was a real donation box, I did read the sentence written there about five times.. :p

donation box :p

OK...stop debating the donation box status.....hahaha... Then about the landscape location, compared to our first St.Mary Cave in Getasan, they had a descending landscape, (except..off course the cave area) but Ambarawa's St.Mary Cave had a hilly landscape especially in their Station of the Cross area.

Station of the cross

This left, was the Station of The Cross majority models. In my opinion their stop's (for these models) were not well maintained, not so clean, and looks old...maybe it's because they used concrete-brick, or maybe because the edge & the numbering board's looks like has been peeled of by weather or by ages... Better if the got a re-paint as soon as possible, and also a better-well-maintenance.

Station of the cross#12

This stop, I could say, was the most photographed Stop in location, a lot of people took photo there (included me!!) and this was the only stop where people put flowers in the candle area (you can buy flowers in stalls outside the location) (so sorry that I couldn't tell how much the flower was, because nobody in our group bought it).

For this photo on the left, I really had to admit, that I forgot what was it, I mean whether this include in Station of the Cross or not. But this Jesus Christ's Cross also had a candle area... so I assume that this also include in Station of the cross, even that I wasn't sure what number was it... -.- (if any of you, my blog's reader, know this, please kindly comment my blog, so that I can revise my posting) and I could say that this one was the number #2 most photographed stop....wkwkwkwwkw... Well It was Indonesian people most favourite things to do.

St.Mary Cave Kerep Ambarawa

The best in the location, the St.Mary Cave!! There we could see a lot of flowers put there from the prayers (you can buy flowers in stalls outside the location) Down-levelled to it was the candles area, next to them (in the most right edge of my photo) there was some taps for source water. It consisted of 3 sensory taps, and 1 manual tap... Those 3 sensory taps really support my opinion (that I mentioned in the beginning of this location's posting) in which I was sure that this location more modernized compare to Pereng-Getasan's St.Mary Cave :)).

Retreat House of Elika

After one full day trip, with a-fully-exhausted-body-and-mind our bus took us to where-we-stayed, in Bandungan area, which was Retreat House of Elika. About this retreat house and Bandungan area I ain't gonna write them all in this posting, instead it will be posted on my next posting on or about month of July 2013. (So keep follow all my blogs ^^)

Cathedral Church of Semarang

Our second day, first trip destination was Cathedral Church of Semarang city, it was a famous church in Semarang especially for Catholic. It's officially named as Cathedral Church "Santa Perawan Maria Ratu Rosario Suci" (named in Indonesian language), located in street of Pandanaran 9th, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. From the Church street name, you surely could guest what we did before visited the Church....yup! We stopped at Pandanaran street of gift-shop, and spent 3 hours in the morning for shopping!!! :)) Then, after we had no money at all to spent, we walked down the street, about 15 minutes to the Cathedral Church. But the Cathedral Church's photos & stories will be posted on my next posting in July with stories of the Retreat House (mentioned above).

St.Mary Cave "Ratu Rosari" Juwana

My 3rd St. Mary Cave!! Hoped that we would be able to the procession of Station of the cross prayer there, since it was our last day trip, and days getting noon already when we arrived there (3.30 pm).

wall painting at the entrance way

Quite a long journey from Pandanaran area to Juwana, about 2-hours-trip. It's located at Wr.Supratman street 1st, Juwana (about 12 kilometres east of Pati way to Rembang) (200 metres from bus station of Juwana).

It's said that this St.Mary Cave at first was an ordinary house owned by a man who has crocodiles as his pet (inside his house -off course). This St. Mary Cave was built as a token of gratitude for his mother's recovery from her illness for their prayer to Jesus Christ through St.Mary. But long time before his mother has been healed, it's said also that there were an old lady from another village /area, who dreamed of this house, in her dream, she saw a great-shining light from the backyard, near the crocodiles cage, well maybe it's a sign that this house supposed to be built as St. Mary Cave ?_?

My first impression of this St. Mary Cave was "it's way too simple from what I expected at most", why, because our way to enter the area was really out of my mind that it was a St.Mary Cave area, it was look a like a normally citizen's house, there were house's fence in the front, a garage with car parked there, we also found some opened-room near the restrooms, look a like a closed-restaurant (or a meeting area, maybe?) because there were tables & chairs in put aside with Jesus Christ & St.Mary in  traditional ornaments. In the corner of this restaurant-look-a-like-room, we found a table and some bottles on it and a sign written there "for sale" "source water & bottles". What?? Why were they selling their source water, instead of giving them for free?

Per Mariam Ad Jesum

I assumed that the man who owned & built this St.Mary Cave must be a Javanesse, because most of the area ornaments, from the wall-painting, in the entrance way, the rooms ornaments, the restroom style, signboards, and etc was using a traditional Javanesse style & language, even I met an old lady (maybe, a local people who hired to kept clean the area) who couldn't speak Indonesian at all, we met her while we were looking for restroom, she couldn't understand what we said until one man from our group asked her using Javanesse language. #fiuhhh....

There were also an opened-room with "Per Mariam Ad Jesum" statue inside, and I thought that nobody in my group (except me & my friend) realized the existing of that room, hahahaha, so that I was sure enough that this photospot were only found by us! :)

After took some photo during our queue line in the restrooms, and finished the-restrooms-business, finally our group leader called us to join the praying procession for Station of the cross. Me as someone who never did this praying procession before, felt so much enthusiasm, then we did he praying procession, which was so much boring for me (well for someone who wasn't a Catholic, I really did prepared my heart & mind to pray completely) I didn't know why, whether it was because I was too tired, or maybe because I didn't prepare my heart & mind well enough, or maybe because the Station of the Cross area was too small and too simple (in my opinion as a non-Catholic-tourist)

Station of the cross area

As you can see in above picture from photo that I took, the Station of the cross area was only a backyard aarea, with a 2D statue in the wall, and we were stood there in one spot in front of them all while we were read the praying in procession, no movement, and no candle-light-on for each station praying procession. Compare to what I saw in the 2 other St. Mary Cave, because their Station of the Cross area were in very wide, hilly, or slopelly (compare to this one) shape, so people there were moving & stopped at each station, pray, then put candlle light on. I didn't know whether another people would did the same as our group or they would went around the Station of the cross area (like what I saw in the 2 St.Mary Cave before).

Stop #9

St. Joseph & St.Mary

So when our group praying procession reach the stopstation  number 5, there I saw a St.Mary & St.Joseph & a child statue in the left outside the backyard area. I put my candle on, there, and pray. After that I joined my group in praying procession again T_T. Finally when we reach station stop number 12 which had the most different style of stop, our group leader allowed us to put candle on. Stop #12 as usual, it had the biggest statue & different models, while the other was only a 2D on the backyard wall, stops #12 had 3D statue models, and the widest & biggest area.

It's such a pity that the candles area was too full (as you can see in the photo), so I found it's quite hard for me to put candle-light-on while struggling & competing with other to find the best place & way to make my candle stood correctly.

Stop #12

Right beside the stop#12, a sign-statue of Jesus Christ's seven last word placed there. It was written there:

1. Father, forgive them, for they know not, what they do
2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise
3. Woman, behold your son! ; Behold, your mother!
4. Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani? (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?)
5. I thirst
6. It is finished
7. Father into your hand I commit my spirit!

Jesus's seven last word

It was a great sign, that reminds us about the incidents of Jesus Christ in cross, so that we will remembered Jesus Christ sacrifation to saved us in this world.

Jesus's 7 last word

There was a hidden area (actually it wasn't really that hide, but it's a bit separated from the other and darker place. The place was a-real-cave-made, it was a stop (I forgot what number, since I was too busy to find a light for me, (well there were small light from the sunshine) to that I could put my candle on in that stop), next to this stop, there was more great things, it was a more hidden & darker cave, and no light at all. It was Jesus Christ's body replica, and the more amazingly was they made some lamp (shaped as candle) around the Jesus Christ's body replica, we had to drop some rupiah's coin then the lamp will be put on for a while, I thought that it did really built a holy atmosphere ther O_O.

Jesus Christ's body replica

Getting out from the Jesus Christ's cave, next to it there was a hidden garden, with statue of open-arm-Jesus-Christ there, and also a bench for visitor to sit and prayed there. (tips: take off your sandals /shoes before you enter this all hidden area & bring small coins money).

Jesus's cave, take off shoes!

Hidden garden

Lucky me! I found the source water for FREE.. it was near the St.Mary Cave, but why the put it inside a dispenser? made me curious whether it was real or fake.. But I thought that it was a real one, because I had no experience of stomachache till I got back to my city, Surabaya.

St.Mary Cave

It's free time! I went around all the area and found a good photo-spot! The last supper 2D color statue wall! A St.Mary statue in the center of the Station of the cross garden! (forgot to take its photo).

The Last Supper

As I wrote above, that this St.Mary Cave first was an ordinary citizen's house, so there was a side area, out from the St.Mary Cave. there I found a sign statue of "Fiat Voluntas Tua". It's said: Fiat Voluntas Tua; To be happened as Your will; Hopefully that this place will be a proper equipment for everyone who wants to have a quiet, pure, and purpose of being able to imitate St. Mary Mother, and Jesus Christ's.

There was an opened room for local people selling souvenirs, such as T-shirt, Source water in special bottle, and etc, but the most special sold there, was a history book of this St. Mary Cave, it cost you only five thousand rupiahs fo each.

Before we went to the last St.Mary Cave, hahahahaa it seems to be a must for us to find the restrooms again! Surprisingly for me, in our way to the out-restrooms, I found another sign-statue again, it was a sign-statue that told a phenomenon of the shining light as  I wrote above. It's said: The shining-light phenomenon is Jesus Christ's creation full of power and miraculous. This phenomenon should grew & more increase our faith & belief to the light-way of Jesus Christ ; Be Blessed.

Rp.5000

Shining-light phenomenon

St.Mary Cave Sendanghardjo

It was way to late when we arrived there, even in our guide-trip-book was written that there no light at all in those area, the really depen on the sunlight! Oh..my God! and we were also too tired.. There were only some small white-lamp garden. So I couldn't tell anything about this place, or post any photo at all >.<

But I could tell that this St.Mary cave had a great landscape, since we had to walk up to the hill, and their statues were on hilly cave also (even though it wasn't clear enough for me to see exactly). During our way to the hilly caves, there we saw some board written as it was also provide a rehabilitation service (I didn't know whether it was for narcotics-user or what), and there were also some small rooms for visitor to stay overnight. Was it for free or rent? I wasn't sure...

*****