Travellingbie: Weekend gateway to Sambas

“I guess sometimes the greatest memories are made in the most unlikely of places, further proof that spontaneity is more rewarding than a meticulously planned life.” 
― J.A. Redmerski, The Edge of Always

Apa ada di Sambas???

Soalan yang ditanya dan akan ditanya bagi yang belum pernah ke Sambas.

Soalan pertama = Sambas itu di mana?

Kabupaten Sambas terletak di provinsi Kalimantan Barat. Merupakan wilayah yang terletak pada bahagian pantai barat paling utara dari wilayah provinsi Kalimantan barat. Di sinilah terletaknya sejarah kesultanan Sambas yang mempunyai ikatan dengan Sultan Tengah dari Sarawak. 

Apa yang menarik di Sambas?

Pertamanya - menyopping barangan dan produk Indonesia terutamanya barangan keperluan rumah dan makanan. Pelbagai jenis makanan dan minuman dipaketkan kecil-kecil dan kreatif dijual di sana atau di mana-mana wilayah di Indonesia.

Keduanya - makanan. Dengan harga berpatutan dan sedap, boleh aja datang ke Sambas.

Ketiganya - kalau tambah 1 hari lagi, boleh ke tempat-tempat Wisata di Kota Singkawang yang terkenal dengan pantai-pantai dan pemandangan matahari terbenam yang indah.

Perjalanan

Perjalanan dari Kuching ke Sambas mengambil masa lebih kurang 4 jam melalui Imigresen Biawak (Malaysia) dan Imigresen Aruk (Indonesia). Ini terpakai bagi kereta penumpang sahaja dan bukannya van atau lori. Bagi kenderaan besar, perlu melalui jalan yang hendak ke Tebedu dan melalui imigresen di sana.

Dari Kuching - akan melalui jalan yang menaiki feri di Rambungan. Kadar bayaran bagi kereta untuk menaiki feri adalah RM1 sahaja. Jika anda bernasib baik, kenderaan anda akan cepat menaiki feri dan sekiranya sudah lewat siang, bersedialah untuk menunggu agak lama dengan kenderaan yang banyak beratur untuk menunggu giliran.

Kami bertolak dari Kuching seawal 730 pagi, setibanya di Rambungan feri sudah beroperasi mengambil penumpang dan kenderaan.

Dari Kuching ke Biawak mengambil masa lebih kurang 2 jam, melalui Lundu. Setibanya di CIQ Biawak, kenderaan diperiksa dan passport di cop. Bagi kereta Malaysia, perlu mengisi borang dan permit masuk kereta ke Indonesia. Jangan lupa bawa sekali Green Card / Geran kereta bersama-sama anda. Permit masuk ke Indonesia diberi selama tempoh sebulan dengan kadar RM80 1 kereta dan di bayar di CIQ Aruk Indonesia.

Urusan imigresen berjalan dengan lancar di kedua-dua lokasi. Selepas melepasi imigresen Aruk Indonesia, kami berhenti di tepian jalan untuk makan pagi dari makanan yang dibekalkan.

Bermula dari Aruk, perjalanan akan mula berbukit bukau dan bersimpang siur. Walaubagaimanapun, jalanraya sangat bagus kerana tiada kenderaan berat dibenarkan melalui jalan ini.

Dari Aruk ke Sambas akan mengambil masa selama lebih kurang 2 jam. Sepanjang perjalanan, kami disajikan dengan ladang-ladang getah dan kelapa sawit.

Kami tiba di lokasi pertama yang untuk foto.

Lokasi 2 = Alfa Mart untuk melihat barang-barang yang ada.

Lokasi 3 = Lebih kurang jam 1130 pagi, kami tiba di hotel di Sambas. Check in dahulu dan solat. Seterusnya keluar untuk membeli belah. Kadar hotel di Sambas agak murah berbanding dengan tempat lain. Untuk penginapan semalam bagi 3 orang sekitar Rp540k dan minum pagi disediakan secara percuma.

Selepas solat, kami mulakan dengan aktiviti membeli belah dan membeli barangan kiriman. Banyak juga kami memborong sehingga penuh bonet di belakang.

Lokasi 4 = Selepas Asar, kami ke sungai Sambas untuk River Cruise dengan kos Rp50k bagi 1 perahu. Sepanjang sungai, kami boleh melihat kehidupan penduduk di sini pada waktu petang dan aktiviti-aktiviti yang dijalankan. Antaranya, kanak-kanak dan orang dewas terjun sungai dari beranda rumah mereka dan aktiviti lumba perahu. Pemandangan waktu senja di sini sangat indah dengan sinaran mataharinya berwarna keemasan. Aktiviti cruise kami mengambil masa lebih kurang 1 jam. Berbaloi sangat dengan jumlah yang dibayar. Namun, perahu cruise tersebut tidak menyediakan pelampung keselamatan. hehehehee...

Lokasi 5 = Makan malam di Royal Cafe. Menu kami pelbagai bagai. Kenyang Alhamdulillah. Dengan menu yang banyak untuk 3 orang ini, jumlah kos makan hanyalah Rp118k sahaja.

Kopi Luwak, Alpokat dan Jus Ciku

Tauhu goreng - nyamann, fresh dan rangup, rasanya sedikit beza dengan tauhu di Malaysia

Bubur paddas - beza sangat dengan yang ada di Sarawak

Macam biasa - bakso makanan wajib bila ke Indonesia :D

Nasi Ayam Penyet

Lokasi 6 = sambung shopping lagi di Cresa. Siang tadi dah shopping di sini dan ditempat-tempat lain. Malam selepas makan sambung pulak mencari dan membeli barang-barang yang baru dikirim. Di dalam Cresa, sempat lagi kawan-kawan shopping melalui Wassap. Senang dah sekarang nie, boleh shopping melalui Wassap, Telegram dan sebagainya. Selesai membeli, kami balik ke hotel untuk rehat.

Keesokan paginya, minum pagi kami = nasi goreng, maggi goreng, bubur ayam dan kerupuk. Simpel tetapi sedap banget. Alhamdulillah.

Perjalanan balik kami bermula pada jam 9pagi. Memandangkan saya perlu kembali ke KL, terpaksalah balik awal dan tak sempat untuk ke tempat-tempat wisata yang lain di Sambas. Hujan sepanjang pagi melambatkan perjalanan kami kerna kami perlu berhati-hati dengan hujan dan cuaca yang berkabus.

Sempat lagi singgah di AlfaMart, last shopping.

Kami tiba di CIQ Aruk dan CIQ Biawak pada jam lebih kurang 12 tengahari. Imigresen di sini sudah mengenali pemandu kereta tersebut disebabkan selalu berulang alik ke Sambas selama sebulan dan sepanjang permit masih sah laku. Rugi kalau digunakan hanya sekali sahaja. Dan urusan sepanjang pemeriksaan berjalan dengan lancar Alhamdulillah tanpa dikenakan sebarang cukai dari kedua-dua CIQ.

Menunggu feri di Rambungan untuk balik ke Bandaraya Kuching

Sempat lagi membeli buah langsat untuk bekalan makan sepanjang perjalanan balik ke Kuching :D

Kami singgah sebentar di salah sebuah surau di perkampungan selepas CIQ dan solat zohor dahulu sebelum meneruskan perjalanan balik ke Bandar Kuching.

Alhamdulillah tiba di rumah lebih kurang jam 230pm dengan selamat.

Banyak lagi tempat di Sambas yang belum diterokai. InsyaAllah di masa yang akan datang, akan jelajah ke Singkawang yang merupakan antara wisata terkenal di Wilayah Sambas.

Kos trip bagi 2h1m di Sambas

Petrol = lebih kurang RM50

Makan pagi dan tengahari = bawak bekal

Hotel penginapan untuk 3 orang = RP540k

Makan malam = RP118k

Minum pagi = Free termasuk dalam bayaran hotel

Shopping = Unlimited, terpulang kepada bajet anda. Saya membelanjakan lebih RP1 juta bagi pembelian barang-barang keperluan, makanan untuk diri sendiri dan kiriman kawan-kawan. heeeee....

2019 Resolutions : Start your money resolution today in a fun way

2019

If you haven't been in a good financial conditions, 2019 might be your year. If you can't consistently saving money from your only source of income, then you should put it in your resolutions this year.

"It's not your salary that makes your RICH, it's your spending habits."~Charles A.Jaffe

There are fun ways to save money. We just need to make it a habit. While putting aside money every month is very difficult, there are ways to save money from your pocket, and it's fun too. As much as you enjoy spending your money, you can actually have fun saving your money.

1. Project RM1
• This is the easiest way to save money in a fun way. Remember when you spend the money and give RM50 notes to the cashier, you definitely get a notes of RM1. Put it aside and save it in your savings jar. If you are able to save RM1 a day, you can eventually save RM365 a year and the money you save can bring you to a mini holiday. This is suitable for a person who have children and train them to save. Bukankah pendidikan kehidupan itu bermula dari rumah? Teach the children how to save and they will eventually appreciate the money that goes out from your pocket and appreciate the value of hard earning.
2. Project RM5
• OK, this is a bit advanced than the 1st suggestions and i believe working people like us or even a housewife can do this. When we received a cash balance from the cashier, take out the RM5 notes and put it aside from our wallet and immediately put it in a savings jar. This method is actually a simple and painless plan. It is also a great way to put aside some money for savings either for emergency, for savings, for travelling purpose, or for retirement (maybe), or even for groceries. If we continue and consistently save RM5 a day, then for 365 days our savings will be RM1,825.00 and with this amount of savings can bring us to overseas trip or buying a new smart phone or  even paying advancement for our new car or even a house.
3. 52 weeks saving challenge
• The 52 weeks saving challenge can be fun. For the 1st week, you will need to save RM1, then the following week, will increase to RM2 and continually to RM52 weeks. After 52 weeks, you'll end up savings RM1,378.00. Senang ke susah nak simpan? I think, we need to ask that questions to ourselves everyday. We can either do it in a reverse way. Start with RM52 per week first than reduce it gradually.
4. Compartmentalize your spending
• Compartmentalizing the spending can actually save your money from overspending. Example: Minus all the debts you have and if you still have balance after paying all debts, then you are quite lucky. Plan your weekly savings and put the money in the envelope. For each week there must be balance of spending. Don't mix the balance money into the next week. Don't you think it is fair? The 2nd week eventually have more money to spend than the 1st week. :)). So, to make it fair, any money balance from the 1st week, can be put in the savings jar. Left alone the money in week 2 or 3 or 4 to survive without any increment.
5. Buy only necessary things. With the emergence of online shopping, people tend to spend more. Just a click from any smartphones, notebook or PC's, everyone can spend a lot.

There are a few suggestions on how to save money in our fun way. But if you think the suggestions is ridiculously impossible, then try to be broke. If you already broke, you will never be at the same situation again once you have determination and passion to save.

"Beware of little expenses, as they can be a huge burden in the future."~uark

Selamat mencuba dan Semoga tahun 2019 ini akan menjadikan anda bebas beban kewangan.

Financial : The 2018 Financial Performance Review

Summary of My Year End Financial Performance of 2018 

The 2018 has been a mixed up in finance and in feelings as well in memories (don’t count bad memories). As 2018 has ended and we have a new start up for 2019, it’s time to begin organizing my budgeting for the year 2019 and might be useful to some of you too. 

This budgeting journal I’ve created, has been used over the 5 years and I have been monitoring my financial performance mostly on income and expenses using this method and I find it quite interesting to know where the money goes and what I’ve spend over the years. 

When I started the Budgeting journal for myself, I find it very hard to keep on track and monitor the expenses. To simplify it, I started with the source of income – where it come from and total it up. Then I create the next row for fixed expenses such as loans, home loan, car loan, personal loan if any, insurance, and others. Then the next sections will be the unfixed expenses such as utilities, bills, and others. And not to forget the charity section for zakat, sadaqah and others related. This one is interesting because you will get tax redemption for zakat, sadaqah unlimited or at least you pay zakat or sadaqah equivalent to your tax for example: tax you pay yearly is ten thousand, you should contribute to zakat or sadaqah more than ten thousand. The last section will be miscellaneous, emergencies and daily expenses. 

Once you’ve set up you own budgeting journal, stick to it. You may sometimes forget to key in and most of the time very lazy to keep on track with the expenses especially daily expenses. That is why, most of the time, I pre-set the amount for fix expenses first, then I know how much money left in my wallet. If the result occurs to negative balance, then you should know which one to be eliminated in the expenses section. The key word is PRIORITIZE. 

The most difficult part is tracking the daily expenses. However, to make it easier, I compartmentalized the expenses into weekly expenses. For example: RM100 a week and depends on your needs and necessity. So, for 4 weeks, you put aside RM400 for your daily expenses. If I still have money left from the daily expenses, it will go into travel account besides the money that I save for travel. That’s how I save money to travel. 

Creating the budgeting journal for the whole year is actually fun. Once you get used to it, you can actually become a good budget planner. It does not matter how low or high your salaries receive every month. The art of financial planning is knowing your ability and limit to earn and spend. The priorities…differs for individuals. I cannot jump into conclusion that everyone has the same needs and priorities. So, if you plan to have a budgeting journal, know your abilities to earn and know your limits to spend. If you have too much money to spend, then spend. If you have less money to spend, then set your priorities. Don’t over limit and you end up having a lot of debts. 

We might not know what happen in the future as we can’t see the future. But we can plan for our better future. We make the best decisions and plan for a better future for us, our children and might be to others. We might even wondering, why even bother if everything we plan is a huge unknown in the future? The answer is simple = without building a plan, the simplest problems can hurt our financial success. We might be able to deal with problems occur from time to time, but with a proper financial planning it can help us to detours and side trips whenever it come. 

Money will always come and go 

“The happiest person might not be the richest in this world, but those who have no bad debts and be able to sleep peacefully at night.”