Hello, my fellow bloggers and friends from around the world.
It has been more than ten years since I started blogging at Simply Asep. During all those years, I have written thousands of blog posts and shared many photos, stories, personal experiences, opinions, and other things through that blog.
I have also met many wonderful bloggers from different countries through Simply Asep. Some of my blogger friends are from the United States, Russia, the Netherlands, Scotland, and many other countries. We visited each other's blogs, left comments, followed each other's blogs, and stayed in touch through blogging. Some of those friendships have lasted for many years.
Now I have decided to move my old blog content to another Blogger blog that I already had. This is not a newly created blog. I created it several years ago, but I have now chosen it as the new home for my old blogging materials.
Starting from Saturday, October 3, 2026, my old blog, Simply Asep (simplyasep.blogspot.com), will no longer be used for my regular blogging activities. I have migrated all of my old blog materials to my other blog, including my blog posts, articles, photos, and other content. There are more than 6,000 posts in the archive, so it was quite a big migration.
There is also another reason why I decided to make this move. I have used the name "Simply Asep" for many years, but I feel that it does not fully represent me anymore. I would now like to use my real name, Asep Haryono, as my blogging identity.
I also added "Indonesia" to the name because most of my friends and readers are from outside Indonesia. I think having "Indonesia" in the blog name makes it easier for international readers to know where I am from.
There is one unfortunate thing about this migration. My old Simply Asep blog had 361 followers, but unfortunately, they could not be migrated to the other blog because the Blogger system does not provide a way to transfer followers from one blog to another. As a result, my new blog currently shows zero followers.
This is why I am writing this post, especially for my old blogger friends from abroad.
If you have been following Simply Asep, I hope you will visit my other blog and follow me there again. I would really appreciate it. I will also be visiting your blogs again and following them from my new blogging home.
I know some of my old blogger friends may have changed their blog addresses, stopped blogging, or simply become less active than they were years ago. That is understandable because blogging has changed quite a lot over the years. But for those of you who are still blogging, I would be very happy to reconnect with you.
I will also try to visit some of the blogs of my old friends again. I have quite a long list of blogger friends from different countries, and I am looking forward to finding and visiting them again.
So, this is not really goodbye. I am simply moving my blogging activities from one old blog to another old blog of mine.
Simply Asep has been an important part of my blogging journey for more than ten years, and I am grateful to everyone who has visited, commented, followed, and interacted with me during that time.
Traveling to Bali is so much fun especially for people whose favorite hobby is traveling. That includes me! It’s happened to me many times. The Island of the Gods, better known as Bali, is one of the most important and famous islands in the world. For me, it feels like my third motherland, after Java and West Kalimantan.
Java was the place where I originally came from, and West Kalimantan is where I’m currently living. .
I was lucky enough to visit Bali many times, starting from early 2005 until the end of December 2010. I probably went there around ten times awesome, right?/ Based on my travel notes, I stayed in a lot of different hotels in Bali during those years. Some of them such as Legian Paradiso Hotel , Adi Dharma Cottages, Hotel Puri Ayu, Denpasar, Puri Dalem Hotel, Sanur , Favehotel Kuta, Ratna Beach Hotel, Sanur , Puri Kelapa Garden Hotel, Sanur, Bali Summer Hotel, Kuta , Segara Agung Hotel, Sanur. and POP! Hotel Kuta.
Insya Allah, I’ll share stories about each of these places in future blog posts. .
My most recent trip to Bali was from December 14 to 17, 2011. I went there with six other Kang Guru Indonesia Champions for a reunion held at the Indonesia Australia Language Foundation (I/A/L/F) on Jalan Sesetan, Denpasar. .
During our time there, we helped the Kang Guru Indonesia team pack up the office. We also had a small nasi kuning gathering and a farewell party. Today’s story is just about the hotel we stayed in during that trip: All Seasons Bali.
RELAX: Just chilling in the lobby of All Seasons Denpasar, Bali. The best way to relax? Simple just wear a comfy short outfit and enjoy the vibe. Photo by Syahrir Badulu, Makassar.
A Glance at All Seasons Denpasar, Bali All Seasons Legian Bali is located on Jl. Padma Utara, Legian 80361, Bali. I wish I had been able to explore the entire hotel during my stay with the other Kang Guru Indonesia Champions from December 14 to 17, 2011. I had planned to look around more, but I just couldn’t find enough spare time. It was really a pity that I didn’t get the chance.
The hotel offered free Wi-Fi in all areas, including our rooms. Unlimited internet access was included in the room rate. Other great features included double beds, plasma or LCD TVs, a solid breakfast, and complimentary tea and coffee throughout the hotel. At All Seasons, the screens are flat, and the beds are large and comfy. I also noticed a swimming pool (though I can’t swim remember that!), restaurants, and lots of other nice services.
I’m actually a member of the AA Club, so I thought I’d earn some reward points for this stay. But the hotel staff informed me that I wouldn’t get any points because the booking was handled through Kang Guru Indonesia. That’s understandable—everything on the trip was arranged and managed by Ogi Yutarini, the project coordinator from Kang Guru Indonesia. So, we just accepted it as it was.
Cool Room Vibes
The hotel was officially opened on Saturday, October 1st, 2011, by the Mayor of Denpasar, Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, SE., M.Si. I remember seeing the announcement on a banner inside the lobby.
According to the official All Seasons website, the hotel has a total of 113 rooms: 78 superior rooms with modern touches, and 29 deluxe rooms.
ROOM: Syahrir Badulu, a Kang Guru Champion from Makassar, entering our room at All Seasons Denpasar, Bali. He was my roommate every time we visited Bali. Photo by Asep Haryono – Kang Guru Champion, Pontianak.
COOL: A TV set and free Wi-Fi are just some of the nice facilities you’ll enjoy when staying at All Seasons Denpasar, Bali. Photo by Asep Haryono – Kang Guru Champion, Pontianak.
BED: Double beds are available in every room, no matter the price. And yes—I really love the green color!. Photo by Asep Haryono – Kang Guru Champion, Pontianak.
WRITE: That’s me, by the way just sitting back, typing up my travel notes at night with a cup of coffee and good friends around. What a wonderful life. Photo by Asep Haryono – Kang Guru Champion, Pontianak.
Capturing the Moments at All Seasons Denpasar, Bali
I took a few photos during my stay at All Seasons Denpasar, Bali, which I’ve shared in this post. All the photos were taken by me using a Canon Coolpix 12-megapixel camera. Unfortunately, I forgot the exact model of the camera. To be honest, the camera wasn’t mine I borrowed it from Mr. Ngatiran, a staff member at FKIP Untan in Pontianak. You’ll see some of the photos both above and below in this post.
I didn’t use the laundry service at All Seasons Denpasar, but you could easily send your clothes for laundry anytime you wanted to. If you prefer to use that facility, it’s totally up to you. Personally, based on my travel habits, I always match the number of days I’m staying with the number of clothes I bring so laundry usually isn’t needed.
Nice Restaurant
Food and meals, anyone? This is always one of my favorite topics when it comes to traveling. Instead of eating out somewhere else, sometimes it’s just more convenient to enjoy the food at the hotel where you're staying.
That’s exactly what happened during our stay at All Seasons Denpasar. All of us Kang Guru Indonesia Champions enjoyed the meals at the hotel’s restaurant. The atmosphere was nice, the food was tasty, and it was a great way to relax and spend time together without needing to go anywhere else
Meal Time at All Seasons Denpasar, Bali
During our stay at All Seasons Denpasar Bali, we used meal coupons (or meal vouchers) for our daily meals. We stayed at the hotel for three days, which meant we had three primary meal coupons one for each day. Each coupon was valid for both of us (my roommate and me). All we had to do was show the coupon to the restaurant staff or security guard. Sometimes, they also asked for our room number to log it in their database.
I’ve included some of the photos I took while enjoying meals at the hotel. One thing I always had with every meal? A glass of orange juice! It’s my favorite because it’s fresh, healthy, and tastes amazing. My roommate, Syahrir Badulu from Makassar, enjoyed the same drink too
FOOD: You can choose any dish you like at this restaurant! I took this photo during my stay at All Seasons Denpasar, Bali. Just don’t forget to show your meal coupon before entering. Photo by Asep Haryono
FRIENDS OF MINE: From left to right: Suryadi (Champion from Madura), Keyko Sri Rahayu (Champion from Semarang), and Saptari Wibowo (Champion from Medan) enjoying breakfast at the hotel restaurant.See the man with glasses sitting behind them? That’s Syahrir Badulu from Makassar. I was sitting right in front of him. Photo by Asep Haryono – Champion from Pontianak.
SO GOOD: There was always a glass of orange juice waiting for me every time I had a meal in Bali. This photo shows one of the dishes I enjoyed at the restaurant inside All Seasons Denpasar, Bali.After coming back from Bali... I was one kilo heavier. Oh no! Photo by Asep Haryono.
When it comes to food, I prefer meals that are both nutritious and delicious. Back in 2007, when I stayed at Legian Paradiso Hotel in Kuta, I loved having bread with Swiss butter, pineapple jam, and strawberry jam. The butter was soft, healthy, and so satisfying. Sometimes I had the bread toasted, other times just plain.
Even with a single slice, I felt full and happy for the day.
Coffee and milk were always available, too. You could mix them if you wanted. Personally, I’m not a big fan of strong black coffee. I prefer milk especially low-fat milk because I try to avoid gaining weight from too much food. But still… after this trip, I ended up gaining one kilo! Oh no!
Wonderful Experiences
The location of All Seasons Denpasar Bali was perfect for a local traveler like me. It was close to markets, shopping malls, restaurants, and Bali’s famous Legian Beach. If I had more time, I would have loved to hang around Kuta Beach and explore other parts of the island as well.
There was even an art shop at the hotel. I didn’t get a chance to visit it properly due to my packed schedule during the program. So, I suggested to my roommate, Syahrir Badulu, that he go check it out and maybe buy something if he liked.
One of the best things we experienced was the hotel’s internet connection. The Wi-Fi was fast, stable, and accessible right from our room. We mainly used it at night after returning to the hotel, and it really helped us stay connected and get things done online. The Wi-Fi at All Seasons Legian Bali was excellent
BYE: See you again, Bali! Here I am standing in front of All Seasons Denpasar, Bali. Photo by Syahrir Badulu – Makassar.
A Little Shopping Adventure
After chatting with Syahrir Badulu in our hotel room, we decided to go shopping outside the hotel. We visited popular spots like Jogger and Erlangga 2, taking a Blue Bird cab from the hotel. Getting a cab was super easy the hotel staff were more than happy to help us arrange one. We’ve always trusted BlueBird as our main transportation whenever we’re in Bali. It’s reliable, safe, and convenient.
Both Syahrir and I were truly impressed by the warm hospitality and friendliness of the staff at All Seasons Denpasar, Bali. They were always ready to assist us, offering information about hotel rules and available facilities to make our stay as comfortable as possible.
Our experience at All Seasons Denpasar was truly unforgettable. The comfort, the service, the location it was all just right.– Asep Haryono .
A Message From Asep Haryono
"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"
Hello Mrs. Ananka from Scotland, Madam Mary Kirkland from the US, Mrs. Irina from Russia, and all my fellow international bloggers. How are you all doing? It is Saturday. Happy weekend to all of you!
First of all, I apologize for not publishing many posts or visiting and commenting on your blogs over the last few weeks.
Indonesia, my country, has been affected by several natural disasters, including landslides, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. Here in West Kalimantan, my province, we are also dealing with hazardous smoke from forest and land fires.
I hope you understand my situation. Hopefully, things will get better soon, and I can return to my regular blogging activities.
Stay safe and happy weekend, everyone!
ASEP HARYONO
Indonesia
Looking at the title of my writing today, it does indeed recount my experience working as a guard for the internet café (cyber café) atTanjungpura University, Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The events took place a long time ago, but there are several interesting things that I would like to write about in my blog as a record of my journey during my time as an internet café officer at three different locations between the years 2001 and 2002. It has indeed been a long time.
This story will start simply, from around the year 1999. At that time, my status was "unemployed," or rather, involved in many activities. The internet café at the Tanjungpura University Cooperative was already in existence. I was interviewed with another candidate. Fortunately, my competitor was accepted as a teacher, if I’m not mistaken. Accompanied by Deddie Jaya Kuning, I applied there.
At that time, there was news that in 1999, the Student Cooperative (Kopma) of Untan was opening vacancies for internet café guards to manage the Kopma internet café, and that information reached me as well.
In short, I attempted to apply for the position as the guard of the only internet café available at that time in 1999. Upon investigation, it turned out that the internet café was a collaboration between the Pontianak Post daily newpaper and Tanjungpura University of the Untan campus. The Untan side provided the location, electricity, and building, while the Pontianak Post provided the hardware and software equipment for the PCs and other necessities. short,
This is the only photo I have from the time when I worked as a guard at the Internet café at Tanjungpura University in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, back in the early 1990s.
The quality of the photo is not very good, but I hope you can still see me as I looked when I was young at the moment.
The person on the far left is me with friends from my English major.
This is a photo from the early 1992s, when I was an English major at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Tanjungpura University in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
I was sitting with John, an English tutor from the UK who was on an exchange program. This photo was taken in 1992 during a General English class in the English major at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Tanjungpura University in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
At that time, I had already been appointed by the student senate to deal with native English speakers as an escort or translator.
What my duties were at that time
The billing officer or internet café attendant (warnet/cyber café) plays an important role in maintaining the smooth operation of the business. Their main duties include operating the billing system, managing customer computer use, recording usage time, and accepting payments for the services utilized.
In addition, the billing officer is also responsible for providing customer service, assisting if there are minor issues with computers or internet connections, and ensuring security and order within the café. In some internet cafés, the attendant also handles additional services such as printing documents, selling food and beverages, or assisting with other customer needs..
Cleanliness and tidiness of the internet café area are often part of the attendant's responsibilities, especially in small-scale internet cafés. Therefore, a billing officer does not only function as a guard or cashier but also plays an important role in providing good service and ensuring that the café's operational activities run smoothly.
First time receiving a real salary beyond a student
The salary I received at that time, which was Rp250,000, was a significant amount for me, especially when viewed in the context of a student's life in the 1990s. This figure is certainly very different when compared to the current economic conditions.
For comparison, the cost of re-enrolling in college at that time was still around Rp75,000, while the rent for my boarding room was only Rp25,000 per month. Thus, an income of Rp250,000 was not a small amount. In fact, that salary could cover various important needs for a student, including education and living expenses.
For me, as someone who was still living the life of a student at that time, earning Rp250,000 from a job as a billing officer or internet café attendant was extremely meaningful. Compared to the re-enrollment fee of Rp75,000, one paycheck alone was more than enough to cover that expense.
Even after paying for education fees, there was still leftover money that could be used for daily needs. Similarly, the cost of boarding was only about Rp25,000 per month. Simply put, that salary was equivalent to the cost of boarding for several months.
Beautiful Memories
That's why I have always considered a salary of Rp250,000 in the 1990s to be a considerable amount. Not only because of its nominal figure, but because its purchasing power at that time was genuinely felt.
That money provided me with financial independence and helped ease various needs during my college years. The experience of working while studying also taught me valuable lessons about responsibility, discipline, and the importance of appreciating every income earned.
At that time, getting a job with an income of Rp250,000 as a student was a significant opportunity and remains one of the experiences I remember fondly to this day. (Asep Haryono)
A Message From Asep Haryono
"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"
Pontianak.One of Pontianak's culinary spots that is quite famous is Siomay Bandung, which is located next to Matahari Mall or around RRI Pontianak Jalan Zainuddin Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, INDONESIA
Hold on for a second. Siomay is a popular Indonesian street food. It originally came from Chinese food called shumai. Over time, Indonesians changed it to match local tastes, using fish, tofu, potatoes, cabbage, and peanut sauce. Today, Siomay Bandung is popular in many parts of Indonesia, including Pontianak. FYI, Pontianak is the capital city of West Kalimantan, Indonesia
Siomay Bandung which is the highlight of the shop fronted by Mas Eko , MANAGER, does indeed make the tongue always jiggle. How not the texture of Siomay Bandung which is the main selling point is really tempting tastes. Who is not tempted to see chunks of Bandung siomay which is quite large in a portion of Bandung siomay.
How about the taste? Wow savory original Mackerel fish.
Siomay Bandung that it sells is indeed a little different from similar Siomay namely Siomay Bu Jujuk who is also famous in Pontianak. The location of Siomay Bu Jujuk is in the area of Jalan Jihad, near the Jihad Mosque in Kota Baru Pontianak.
What is the difference between Siomay Bu Jujuk and Siomay Bandung?
In my observation there are only 2.
1 proxy SIomau Bandung guaranteed price of 19K worth of satisfaction because of its large size. Photo of Asep Haryono
I am quite familiar with this Bandung sioma boss. Because since in the old place until the new place he continues to be his boss. Mas Eko Photo of Asep Haryono
LIBRARY: Please take the book you like and read it on the spot. Don't take it home Photo of Asep Haryono
First, Siomay Bu Jujuk uses Beef so that the texture is much more sticky, Siomay Bandung uses Tenggiri or Belidak Fish Meat so that the texture of the meat is easier to split and tastes good for being bitten.
Second, Siomay Bu Jujuk uses Emping as his "crackers", while Siomay Bandung does not use any crackers. Then for peanut sauce on Siomay Bu Jujuk is much sweeter than Siomay Bandung's peanut sauce. The prices of the two dumplings are relatively the same, ranging from 15K to 20K per serving.
One of the uniqueness that is in Siomay Bandung is there is a mini library Actually this is already plural in Jakarta and other major cities throughout Indonesia. Many cafes in Jakarta and other big cities in Indonesia are also equipped with libraries or reading facilities for visitors. Of course the book notes can only be read on the spot, once you finish reading it back to the original shelf.
Don't just take it home if you don't want to be caught by surveillance cameras or CCTV.
People laugh at me
I really experienced this myself a few years ago. As far as I can tell, it happened in the 1990s for a very long time. This is if I'm not mistaken. At that time Siomay Bandung was still in the old place in the Emperor Supemarket area.
At that time I was with my best friend enjoying Siomay Bandung. My friend ordered 1 portion of Siomay Bandung, and me too. It's just an addition that is a serving of white rice. So the story is eating Siomay Bandung with rice.
I made Siomay Bandung a side dish of rice. In other words, I consider a portion of Siomay Bandung which is full of meat, which I consider to be a side dish. So it is natural (in my supervision) added with a serving of rice. Suddenly my best friend laughed out loud.
My friend said that in Pontianak it is not usual to eat Siomay Bandung which is a "snack" made as a real side dish that is a serious rice friend. Getting that information, I still just continued my eating with the "side dish" of Siomay Bandung. Tastes are undeniable. (Asep Haryono)
Hello Mrs. Ananka from Scotland, Madam Mary Kirkland from the US, Mrs. Irinafrom Russia, and all my fellow international bloggers that I recently visited. How are you all doing? It is Saturday. Happy weekend to all of you!
First of all, I would like to apologize to my fellow bloggers and friends around the world for not publishing many blog posts or visiting and commenting on your blogs during the last few weeks. My work schedule has been quite busy, and I also need to spend time taking care of my family. In addition, I have been working on several projects for my clients. I hope you understand my situation.
I truly appreciate your friendship, patience, and continued support. I hope to have more time soon to return to blogging and reconnect with my fellow bloggers around the world.
Today, I would like to share some information about my work at SPPG Kualadua, located in Kabupaten Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, as well as the current weather and environmental situation in our region.
I have been working at SPPG Kualadua as part of the Packing Personnel Unit since November 2025. There are 12 personnel, including me, in our team. Our regular working schedule is five days a week, from Monday to Friday.
Recently, the situation in West Kalimantan has become very concerning. The weather and air conditions have been severely affected by land clearing and forest fires, which have produced thick smoke and haze across many areas of West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia.
The haze has affected daily activities and raised concerns about public health and safety. Because of these conditions, people are encouraged to take care of their health and reduce unnecessary outdoor activities.
A photo captured by a journalist showing the situation: Thick haze caused by forest and land fires has once again blanketed cities across West Kalimantan. Residents are advised to limit unnecessary outdoor activities and are encouraged to wear masks. source ; PHOTO from Pontianak POST
The situation has also affected schools. Schools have been temporarily closed, and students have been instructed to stay at home until further notice from the authorities.
Because of the unfavorable conditions, the kitchen operations at SPPG Kualadua have also temporarily stopped until further notice.
We sincerely hope and pray that the situation will improve soon, that the fires can be controlled, and that the air quality will return to normal. We also hope that schools, workplaces, and other public activities can safely return to normal as soon as possible.
Further information about the reopening of the kitchen and other developments will be shared when updates become available.
Despite my busy schedule and the current situation, I will continue to write and share stories, experiences, and other interesting information on this blog whenever I have enough time.
Thank you very much to all my fellow bloggers and readers around the world for your patience, understanding, friendship, and continued support.
Let us all pray for cleaner air, better weather, good health, safety, and better days ahead.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep your spirit strong!
Warm regards,
Asep Haryono
Indonesia
A Message From Asep Haryono
"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"
As the FIFA World Cup 2026™ continues to attract millions of football fans around the world, I have found myself visiting the official FIFA website almost every day. There is always something interesting to see, from the latest match results and player statistics to videos, photos, and tournament news. It is one of the best places to stay updated with everything happening during the competition, and I always enjoy spending a few minutes there after work.
During my visit last night, I became curious about the official merchandise and clicked on the FIFA Store. Like many football fans, I enjoy looking at jerseys and souvenirs even if I don't plan to buy them. Every World Cup has its own special collection, and I was interested to see what FIFA had prepared for this tournament. As I browsed through the store, one item immediately caught my attention. It was the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Kansas City Jersey – Limited Edition.
My first impression was very positive. The jersey is beautiful. It doesn't look like a traditional football shirt at all. Instead, it looks like a piece of art. The colorful illustrations, flowers, football players, musical instruments, and famous landmarks make it very different from ordinary jerseys. I can imagine collectors falling in love with it because the design is creative, unique, and full of character. Whoever designed it certainly deserves credit for creating something so eye-catching.
Then I noticed the price. The jersey costs US$375. That is insane.
I was curious, so I checked the latest exchange rate. It showed that 1 US Dollar equals Rp17,909. That means the US$375 jersey costs about Rp6.7 million in Indonesian money. When I saw that number, I stopped thinking about buying the jersey. Instead, I started thinking about what else I could buy with the same amount of money. For my family of five, Rp6.7 million is enough to buy groceries for about one month. To me, that is a lot of food compared to just one football jersey.
At first, I thought I had read it incorrectly, so I looked again. The price was correct. Out of curiosity, I converted it into Indonesian Rupiah, and the result was around Rp6.7 million. That was the moment when my excitement changed into surprise. I wasn't thinking about football anymore. I was thinking about my family's monthly expenses.
For many people, especially here in Indonesia, Rp6.7 million is not a small amount of money. In my case, it could buy groceries for my family of five for about a month. Rice, cooking oil, eggs, vegetables, fruit, chicken, fish, milk, coffee, sugar, and many other daily necessities could all be purchased with that amount. When I looked at the jersey again, I couldn't help smiling. It is beautiful, but I also imagined a supermarket trolley full of food instead
Please don't misunderstand me. This article is not meant to criticize FIFA or complain about the price. I understand that this is a limited-edition collector's jersey, not an ordinary football shirt. Products like this are made for collectors and passionate fans who appreciate exclusive merchandise. For them, the price may be reasonable because they are buying something unique that may even become more valuable in the future.
However, my experience reminded me that the value of money is different in every country. What seems expensive but affordable for someone in one part of the world can represent a month's household budget somewhere else. That is simply the reality of different economies. As football fans, we all share the same love for the game, but our purchasing power is not always the same.
Even so, I enjoyed visiting the FIFA Store. Looking at the official merchandise is part of the World Cup experience, and I genuinely admire the creativity behind this jersey. Although I probably won't be buying one anytime soon,
I have no problem appreciating its artistic design. Sometimes it is nice just to admire something, even if it is beyond our budget.
In the end, I closed the FIFA Store, returned to reading the latest World Cup news, and continued enjoying the tournament. I realized that supporting football has never depended on owning the most expensive jersey. The excitement of watching a great match, celebrating a spectacular goal, and sharing the experience with friends and family is worth far more than any piece of clothing.
If someone asked me today whether I would spend Rp6.7 million on this limited-edition FIFA jersey, my answer would probably be no. I would rather use that money to buy groceries for my family and continue watching the World Cup wearing one of my old football shirts. It may not be a collector's item, but it still carries the same love for the beautiful game
Now it's your turn.
If you had US$375 (about Rp6.7 million), would you buy this limited-edition FIFA jersey, or would you rather spend the money on groceries, a family holiday, or something else? There are no right or wrong answers.
I would love to hear what you think.
Leave a comment below and join the conversation
A Message From Asep Haryono
"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"
I visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 16 to 17, 2009. It was a really long time ago. I joined as an Indonesian young participant in the Youth Engagement Summit (YES) along with hundreds of youth participants from Southeast Asian countries, with Malaysia as the organizer. There are several tourism spots that are quite interesting to share here, including some unusual and unfamiliar things that you might find interesting. These are all the memories I have written here.
I never imagined that I would have the chance to visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November 2009. It has been quite a long time since then, but I still have many travel stories to share with all my blogging friends, including food experiences and many other interesting things.
The trip happened very suddenly.
What made it even more special was that my 2-day, 1-night visit to Kuala Lumpur was worth about Rp25,000,000 (around US$2,500 at the exchange rate of Rp10,000 per US dollar at that time). Just imagine how many klepon you could buy with that much money
It would not feel complete to visit Kuala Lumpur without seeing the famous Petronas Twin Towers, one of Malaysia's greatest landmarks. At that time, I went there with several other delegates from the Youth Engagement Summit (YES) Conference.
We traveled by bus and left at around 10:00 a.m., oops, I almost said Indonesian time! It was Malaysia time, of course.
We did not know the route very well, so we simply asked people for directions until we finally arrived.
Unfortunately, we could not go up to the top of the Twin Towers because there was an emergency drill that day for fire safety and anti-terrorism training
For a moment, I remembered the exciting 1999 movie Entrapment, starring Sean Connery as Mac and the beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones as Gin. Some scenes from the movie were filmed at the Petronas Twin Towers, so it was really exciting to stand there in person. Very cool!
Then I started wondering what it would be like if a movie like that were filmed in Jakarta at the National Monument (Monas). Would that be possible? I think it could be, if someone really wanted to make it happen! Haha
AWESOME: The Petronas Twin Towers stand tall and impressive. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to go up to the top during this visit. Maybe next time. Photo by Asep Haryono
A fun stroll around the Petronas Twin Towers with my fellow Indonesian delegates! 🇮🇩 I filmed this video myself, so please forgive the occasional shaky footage. Back then, I was using an ancient smartphone that probably belonged in a museum.
This was me just goofing around during the coffee break between sessions on the first day of the Youth Engagement Summit (YES) – South East Asian Youth for Personal Change (SEAchange), held on November 16–17, 2009, at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).I was doing a fake "live report" right under the massive dome of this magnificent building, pretending to be a TV reporter. No important news, really... I was just shamelessly showing off that I was there!
CLEAN: The streets were clean, well organized, and not very crowded. It was a working day, so I wondered where everyone was. Why were the roads so quiet?
Photo by Asep Haryono
Walking around Kuala Lumpur was a pleasant experience. The city was clean, and I hardly heard any car horns at all. According to some local people, using the horn is not encouraged there, and it may even be against the rules.
I also noticed that public telephones for emergency services, such as the fire department and the police, could be used without inserting any coins first. They connected directly to the emergency services.
The roads were busy with traffic, but everything was well organized. I think this is possible because the people of Kuala Lumpur have a good sense of responsibility and take pride in their city. At least, that was my impression.
For dinner, all of us wanted to enjoy local food from the street stalls. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of the food. I do have a short video, but I was worried it would take too long to upload to YouTube because the internet connection was not very fast at that time.
One thing I still remember is trying Nasi Lemak with curry chicken. It was quite affordable, costing only about 5 Malaysian Ringgit, which was around Rp18,000–20,000 at that time.
FUN FACT.
One of the street foods I tasted that night was satay, which was cooked in a different way from the way it is prepared in my country, Indonesia. Beef or chicken satay is usually grilled over charcoal and fanned by hand. However, this was not the case in Kuala Lumpur. Instead of grilling it over charcoal, they boiled it in hot water. The local people said it was healthier than grilling it over charcoal because the smoke could be harmful to our bodies. Hmmm... that makes sense.
That was much cheaper than what I once saw on the internet about a Padang restaurant in Sydney. According to the menu I found online, just one corn fritter (perkedel jagung) cost about AUD 2, or around Rp20,000. And that's for only one corn fritter! Haha.
(Have I ever been to Sydney? Not yet! So how do I know the prices? I looked them up on the internet. Haha!)
After remembering this trip, I really wanted to visit Kuala Lumpur again in futrue. In fact, I wanted to go there so much that I even created a new blog header featuring Kuala Lumpur.
I had already started planning the trip, although I did not know which month I would be able to go. God willing (Insya Allah), I hoped it would happen.
PROTEST: I asked a local resident in Kuala Lumpur about ISA. I was told that it stood for the Internal Security Act, a law that was said to restrict certain protests and activities against the government. It reminded me of Indonesia's anti-terrorism law, although the two are not exactly the same.
Photo by Asep Haryono
CLEAR: Taking the bus was easy because the fare was clearly displayed. There was no need to worry about having enough money. The bus fare was 1 Malaysian Ringgit. Can you guess how much that was in Indonesian Rupiah at the time?
Photo by Asep Haryono
NEAT: This is not a voting booth! It is the entrance to a public toilet in a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. Visitors paid a small fee by putting the money into a collection box before entering.
Photo by Asep Haryono
SHOPPING AT DAY. Here, I was filming one of my fellow Indonesian delegates during the Youth Engagement Summit (YES) 2009 while we were wandering around a shop at Kuala Lumpur's Central Market one afternoon.The two shopkeepers were super friendly and loved joking around, so of course we couldn't resist having a little fun with them!
Recorded by Asep Haryono.
SHOPPING AT NIGTH : On our last night before flying back to Indonesia, I tagged along with my fellow Indonesian delegates for a little night shopping adventure near our hotel in Malacca.The streets were lively, the food stalls were everywhere, and the atmosphere was just fantastic! This video captures the fun of bargaining for souvenir keychainsbecause no shopping trip is complete without a little friendly haggling!
Recorded by Asep Haryono.
AIRASIA: I am standing in front of the AirAsia airline backdrop. This photo was taken during a break at the Southeast Asia Youth Engagement Summit in Kuala Lumpur in November 2009.
Photo by Asep Haryono.
A few days earlier last May 2026, I had also received a package from the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Jakarta (through the Embassy of Malaysia). It contained a book, brochures, leaflets, and a Visit Malaysia 2026 tourist map. I was sure these travel materials would help me plan my next visit to Kuala Lumpur much better.
Well, it was still just a plan. God willing (Insya Allah), everything would go smoothly and I would be able to visit Kuala Lumpur again.
A Message From Asep Haryono
"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"
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