Exchange Journey in Sabah

Sep 6, 2017
5 min read

Ok, saya ingin bercerita bagaimana perjalanan ini berlalu but I feel confused from which part I will start. Let's start from beginning when our house-mate, GTR Condominium, drove me to the airport. For sure, we often fought each other because miss-communication, more over saya dengan Izudin, I like to call him bobo (It's phillipine language) because he always do stupid things. But I don't know why, they never put me in

trouble situation although each of us has own problems. Then, I think they are my fourth family in Semarang after Communication programme, peer-group, research divison BEM FISIP 2017, etc. Sometimes, we did shit-things, bullying each other, lol. Don't so serious. Really! I felt so sad when I must to leave the house (we called it Condo). Ya bisa dibilang gundah gelisah dan tidak ingin pergi jauh dari kamar, wkwk. Actually, I prepared my baggage the night before I leave, keterlaluan kan? emang! My mother always remind me to prepare anything for day before I leave but I never care to her said because I am not the type like that. She always called me for that thing. God! What happens after that? I picked up everything that I've remembered and seen, not planning anything. Eventually, my baggage weight is 20 kilograms. It just contained with clothes and pants. Actually, I forgot to bring my laundry too, so I didn't bring all my clothes and pants. Zeeez.....never mind.

Boo! It's just 3.00 AM. My biggest nightmare is coming to me, in front of me. I must face it wheter I want it or not. I woke up Izzudin, then Izzudin did the same to Septian and the others. They were going to Ahmad Yani International Airport.

The saddest fact is it's the first time for me to have international flight, nice! I want to thank you Pam-Pam, the master of traveller, he told me everything about transit, imigration office, baggage claim, etc. And thank you Kesayangan, Putndut, and Adina too yah! Then, guess what? My transit distance was too short, lol! From Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Kualalumpur International Airport, I didn't need to rush because the transit distance was 4 hours or something. But in Kualalumpur International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, I need to rush because it had a hour more before take-off, oh no! I looked around and found check-in point. I met a woman, nice woman for sure, she asked me where I wanted to go, I said "I want to go to Kinabalu, do you know it?"

Suddenly, This is good news for me, she is an Indonesian too. I didn't notice her passport. Then she asked me back, "Yeah, I know it. Nice place. Where do you come from? what's your purpose to go". I just said "I come from Indonesia and want to do exchange in Sabah, Malaysia". She shocked, and said "Halah sok-sokan pakai bahasa inggris nih hhaha....". For your information, this woman wanted to go to Vietnam, I forgot the city where she wanted to go. She visited her husband who worked in Vietnam such a struggle relationship. And from this case, I recognize that Indonesia always be Indonesia wherever they go. Rumpun kita merupakan rumpun sebangsa dan setanah air. Kemanapun Kita pergi, orang Indonesia akan senang melihat orang Indonesia lainnya, you can proof it by yourself lah. Efek baru dengar lagu nasional "Tanah Air Tak Kulupakan" sih, wkwk! *not correlated*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGXnPC_GYLw

After I had arrived in Sabah State, I went to Kingfisher International Hostel and bought some stuffs in g**nt then I slept. In the morning, I just felt terrible hot! You must know that Sabah has the other name, it calls "Land Below The Wind". Ya pokoknya panasnya itu panasnya membunuh, tidak disarankan untuk menggunakan pakaian yang berlapis-lapis. I suggest you to use t-shirt when you go to Sabah, jangan sekali-sekali coba pakai jaket, sweater, cardigan, atau apapun itulah! Keringet lo bakal ngucur sampai ga bisa habis, wkwk! Ok, let's move to the story. I wanted to go to somewhere that I don't know before, I don't know why, I just felt insteresting with to more explore. So, I typed some place located at Sabah in Google. And guess what? I found something that made me shock! Actually, Malaysia has many states which have their own flag. Do you understand? Don't worry, I ever didn't understand too like you. So let's me explain to you. You can see flag picture in the left side, each country in Malaysia has own flag and regulation (mungkin sistemnya ga terpusat banget kaya Indonesia). Every state be united and fromed together which we call Malaysia now. I can't more explain to you guys, sorry. Maybe you can visit this link: It's about Sabah. Ok?

Tak terasa, I had taken 3 hours or something to read and explore about Sabah. Sebelumnya, saya sudah mencari tahu tentang Sabah, University Malaysia Sabah, dan seisinya but I think it isn't enough lah haha. Angin baru saja berhenti menyisir rambut, finally I decided where I want to go. Bandaraya Mosque! Normally, Malaysian calls Surau for the mosque. It's quiet good place, I thought. Then, I went rush from my hostel room and ordered Grab Car. My Grab Car had arrived and I came in to the car. Oh god! guess what? All of people in Sabah are too nice including Grab Driver, Local People, employee in g**nt cashier, UMS Student ! It isn't kinda superrior thing but it's real. By the way, thank you to Mrs. Dian, Mrs. Nana and Mr. Mail, and the other UMS staffs who assist me when I have arrived in Sabah for the first time, I can't imagine if you hadn't appeared in that time :( So, you can prove that is not true that Malaysian hates Indonesian, It's just a streotype. Prove it by your self, Ok?

Back to the story, I asked many things to the driver about Sabah ! Then, I told him that Indonesia is very wonderful, and also with him that Sabah is very nice. Suddenly, I asked him about where place I must visit and he mentioned many places. But I can't remember it in an instant lah because I am not a noodle *badum...ts...*. Unfortunately, our talk must be finished because we had arrived in our destination, Bandaraya Mosque! It locates not too far from my hostel. Grab Driver put me down in the front of main entrance. Suddenly, My tear was falling down, I don't know why. My heard just trembled. For your information, Bandaraya Mosque is a mosque that floating in a pool of water and the view is so amazing! Besides that, The architectural design is based on the Nabawi Mosque, the second holiest site in Islam, in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The dome is blue and gold, inspired by similar Arabic architecture.

Oh no, I felt like I am asking someone to hit me harder when I was in. It is cools heritage place surely. You know what? Every tourist who come to Sabah, including Non-Muslim, can be visited this place except during prayers. It looks like a must to visit this mosque haha. But, you can't be in this place at will. You must to wear Muslim Uniform, if you a boy, you must to wear polite cloth and long pant and if you a girl, you must to wear Muslimah Uniform (using hijab is a must). Then, you can come in to the mosque or just take a photo in front of the Mosque. It's great heritage place that must to visit! Oh iya, sekian dari saya, semoga cerita ini dapat menginspirasi Kalian untuk pergi ke luar negeri dan mencari pelajaran, mau itu budaya, gender, agama, kepercayaan, dll. In this story, I will not mention about University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) because it's too big place! but if you want to know about University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), then you can go to Discover University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) . Maaf dan Terima Kasih!