Controlling Smartphone Data Roaming While Abroad (Part 2)

Avoid Heart Attack And Let Your Smartphone Roam Data Until a Certain Bytes

On Part 1 I've explained how to set your smartphone (Android, iphone) or Blackberry to totally disable internet connection/ data service.

Here in Part 2, I'll share about how to limit your data service by setting a quota.

 

And remember, do this before departing abroad

Option-2 : Setting a quota/limit for internet/ data roaming

You need to install an app such as 3G Watchdog or Data Counter Widget.
I use 3G Watchdog where I can  specify my own quota and starting date:

Controlling Smartphone Data Roaming While Abroad (Part 1)

Data Auto-sync That Causes Heart Attack

Yes you would love to take your smartphone everywhere you go, because of its 1001 functions beyond communication. But, beware if you plan to go abroad. The auto-sync of emails, chats, apps and other background data will cost you enormous amount enough to cause a heart attack. A year ago, on a trip to a neighboring country, my search of  a local restaurant made my phone bill jumped to USD 200 (normally only USD 25/month)...means cost of data roaming exceeded cost of the food I had at that restaurant :(

So, the next time I went abroad, I adjusted some settings on my smartphone. Here's what I did , and proved to be effective. As a note, I still can connect to the internet via wifi (most hotels have wifi , and several countries/cities, e.g Hongkong, provide wifi all over its corner ).

You have 2 options to do with your smartphone : totally disable data roaming, or setting a quota/ limit for data roaming.

This settings is according to Android OS, but actually it's almost the same for i-phone / blackberry, only each OS has its own terminology) :

Do This Before departing abroad :

Option-1 : Totally disable internet/ data roaming

Go to SETTINGS, choose WIRELESS AND NETWORK

One Better Way To Go From Bandung To Yogyakarta

Lodaya Train

Going from Bandung to Yogyakarta ?

You have several ways : 

1. by airplane (  Lion air and Merpati ) - the two airlines operates this route by small  aircraft with propellers. Although there's been no accident with it, but this kind of aircraft is likely to get heavy turbulence up there. One other point, Bandung's airport Hussein Sastranegara is catagorized as a hard-to-land airport, so personally I don't prefer going to Yogya by flight. Once again I emphasized that this is a very personal choice.
2. by bus/ car - many night buses depart from Bandung at 7 or 8 p.m, and arrive at Yogya early morning at 4 or 5 a.m. Executive coach like Kramatdjati with supercold AC and TV is also available. Daytime trip will take longer time because of busy traffic, with a high probability of jam at certain point between Bandung and Tasikmalaya.
3. by train - executive-class train Lodaya departs Bandung Railway Station twice daily : 8 a.m (Lodaya Pagi) and 8 p.m (Lodaya Malam), arrives at Yogyakarta in 7 hours 45 minutes.

On my trip last December 2012, I chose to go to Yogya by train, by Lodaya Malam, and to me it was a nice experience : well-maintained facilities both at Bandung and Yogya railway stations, fair fare (IDR 200,000 one-way), on-time departure and arrival,  clean cabin, comfortable seat, blanket and small pillow is provided for free, and they even provide electricity plug on every seat:

What about toilets? Toilets are clean enough..remember that no matter where you go in this earth, you should always tolerate some smell in public toilets :))

Tips for pessengers:

1. If you go night journey with Lodaya Malam, wear a pullover/ jacket (and socks, if you need ones) that's thick enough, because temperature is pretty cold, especially around 1.00 - 4.00 a.m when low outside temperature contributes negatively to cabin's temperature. 
2. Because cabin's lamps is always turned on, bring an eye-shade if you can't sleep in bright surroundings. 
3. A neck pillow will enhance your sleep quality.
4. This Lodaya train's final destination is at Solo, so wake up early in order not to miss Yogya station ;)
5. Book online your Lodaya Bandung-Yogya-Bandung to save your time.

And if you're planning to go to Yogyakarta, you might like this adventurous journey:
Pindul cave tubing (Gunung Kidul)
Oyo river tubing (Gunung Kidul)

Choosing The Right Luggage

Planning for a successful holiday involves choosing the right suitcase.

Just imagine, you have to pull your heavy suitcase and bring it into a crowded public bus. In such condition, it will be more comfortable for you to bring a backpack. 

There're several things you should take into account when choosing the type of suitcase (off course, first of all you have to decide how much stuffs you'll bring during your travel) :

FIRST, DETERMINE ITS SIZE BASED ON THESE TWO THINGS:

Are you going to bring it as a cabin carry-on baggage? Or as a check-in baggage? 

There's still misperception, that every airline has the same policy about  carry-on baggage. In fact, each has its own policy : the linear length (sum of height +width+ length in inch or cm), weight, and some applies pieces.

Generally 45-inch linear length suitcase (22x14x9) will be acceptable in airplane's cabin- off course if it fits weight restriction.

Travel Tips

Check out these tips  and enjoy your holiday !!

 

Let's Go Cruising

How to Prevent Jetlag 

Tips for Travelling With Children

Choosing The Right Luggage for Your Holiday

The Lodaya Train : One Better Way to Go From Bandung to Yogya  

Traveling Abroad : Controlling Data Roaming on Your Smartphone (part 1)

Traveling Abroad : Controlling Data Roaming on Your Smartphone (part 2)

Cruising, A Luxurious Way To Travel

Why Is Cruising Irresistible?

Several years ago my husband and I decided to take our children and parents cruising. Because there was no cruise line departing from Indonesia, we chose the nearest embarkation port - Singapore. Our  itinerary was Singapore - Langkawi - Phuket - Singapore operated by Star Cruise. The point is, our cruise holiday has been one of the best holiday ever!! I always remember how that 'cruise fever' lasted for months, as my parents - very proudly - kept telling everyone about that holiday. Read on and find out what makes cruising adorable for everyone !

Advantages of Cruising

MENCEGAH JETLAG

Apa  Itu Jetlag?

Jetlag adalah kondisi di mana tubuh mengalami kekacauan jam biologis akibat perubahan zona waktu. Sebagaimana kita tahu, bepergian jauh melintasi beberapa zona waktu akan menyebabkan pergeseran waktu tidur, waktu makan, dan waktu beristirahat. Akibatnya tubuh kita terasa lemas, kepala terasa berat bahkan pusing/sakit, kehilangan nafsu makan, dan beberapa mengalami kesulitan tidur di malam hari dan mengantuk di siang hari saat tiba di tempat tujuan. Gejala-gejala inilah yang disebut dengan jetlag, dan dapat berlangsung hingga beberapa hari.

Nah, tentunya dalam bepergian, apalagi dalam rangka wisata atau libur, kita tidak ingin terserang jetlag. Beberapa kali saya melihat teman seperjalanan yang mengalami jetlag, waaaah, sengsara sekali, ketika yang lain asyik di obyek wisata, belanja, foto-foto atau beli kudapan setempat, si korban jetlag hanya bisa duduk sambil mengurutkan minyak kayu putih ke pelipis dan merapatkan jaket di tengah musim panas yang cerah.  Tidak tega melihatnya. Yang kita harapkan, kita bisa menikmati libur dengan sehat, tanpa harus diganggu jetlag.

Kapan Berisiko Terkena Jetlag?

Semakin besar perbedaan zona waktu (antara tempat asal dan tempat tujuan), semakin besar kemungkinan terserang  jetlag. Bepergian ke tempat dengan selisih waktu 11 jam dari waktu kita, akan lebih besar risiko terkena jetlag dibandingkan pergi ke tempat yang selisih  waktunya hanya 4 jam.

Tips Bepergian ke Luar Negeri Bersama Anak-anak

Berlibur bersama keluarga pasti asyik. Ayah, Ibu, dan anak-anak semua akan bersemangat menghadapinya. Supaya segala hal berjalan lancar, berikut beberapa tips bila kita mengajak anak bepergian ke luar negeri:

1.    Libatkan anak untuk memilih sendiri  pakaian yang akan dibawa, tentunya orangtua memberi arahan mengenai jenis dan kuantitas yang diperlukan. Ini akan menghindarkan keributan yang tidak perlu selama liburan, seperti  “Ma, kenapa koq bawanya baju yang ini, kenapa kaos hijau ku nggak dibawa?”