TSSM Stakeholder Meeting, Surabaya 2008

My next workationing was to Surabaya to organize the TSSM Stakeholder Meeting. The participants were planned about 80 people from 12 districts in phase 1 of TSSM project. The participants were expected to present their achievements after triggering happened from the TSSM intervension. Instead of having a meeting, we also planned to have exhibition in the same room. So I had prepared 1 black pannel for 1 district to display any communication tools of their presentation on the exhibition. The nteresting part was that there will be competitions based on 3 categories -- Best Individual & Best Group in achieving the TSSM target and Best Performance of Exhibition. TSSM TTL (Task Team Leader) asked me to find vendor who could produce in short notice, trophy of mini toilet made from copper! What expensive trophy.

The procurement process were narrowed down to 3 five-star hotel -- JW. Marriott, Hyatt Regency and Sheraton. After so many consideration (well, not really... the main consideration was only the price..), Hyatt Regency had been chosen to hold the meeting and exhibition. Actually, we had our preference on the venue but procurement process would not allow us to choose our preference due to fairness. We had a little doubt for Hyatt Regency based on our previous experience. So, based on those bad experiences, I have them to come down the office and told them about the rule of the game on this up-coming meeting, that we do not the same thing happen to this important meeting. I explained to them that the participants who will attend the meeting is going to be villagers who absolutely had never been staying in five-star hotel like Hyatt Regency. I asked them to respect and serve like the other guests. I have requested so many conditions -- locked the refrigerator in each rooms, asked for 7 free black pannels for the exhibitions, various venue for the dinners, lack of foods, free flow of water, milk, coffee, sugar and everything, help in check in counters, help in check out and everything and the most important thing was that I have warned them that we are traveling with one of my ex boss who is very fussy and determined. So I have asked them to be prepare with last minutes requests based on her requests.

With so many requirements from us, Hyatt Regency had agreed to give a full time and first class service to us. The day was coming. I flew 1 day earlier to prepare everything before all participants come. One thing for sure that I never go to bed on 10 pm everytime I am workationing, always after 12 pm. The hotel itself ... wow very nice, big, cozy and anything you would like to complement, is just there. The view, the garden, the lobby, the meeting room, the pool, so amagingly nice. I just dont really like the room, compared to JW. Marriott. The room is bigger but less cozy than the JW. Marriott. Ok.. enough talking about the hotel. The workflow was exactly as I had imagined. We always rushed Hyatt's sales person, banquet person, to accomodate our needs. Based on their commitment to us that they will bring their first class service to us, they have managed to accomodate our last minutes requests.

The check in process took harder than I had emagine. The participants just wanted to switch room which I have ordered, last minutes cancelation and last minutes confirmation which allowed me to re-check the room list over and over again and really bother the receptionist. Actually, I knew that this will happen and I had prepared myself in welcoming all participants by standing next to the reception table. I wanted to see myself all participants faces, wanted to know their requirements and let them know the rule while staying at the hotel. Based on the caotic situation, I had to ask 1 person incharge to handle my group until the event finish.

The first day and second day went well as planned, but not at lunch time. All the suddent there were so many people came to the event to have free lunch.... It really made me nervous, afraid there were not enough food to be served. I had to check many times with the banquet person and I saw so many banquet person helping me in serving the foods and telling me that I dont have to worry about lack of food.

The second night, while having dinner by the pool, I was a bit shock when a person from Bangkalan asked me a question,"Why did we have this meeting in a such beautiful and expensive hotel, while all villagers in my district in Bangkalan dont have any toilets and they are very poor. Why didn't you give this money to the poor so they could have a decent life, by having subsidised toilet?" At first I really do not know how to answer. But the guy really waited me to answer the question, while there were no other source sitting in the same table with me. I replied,"Well pak, this event is made to thank you as our hero. Without you all, the TSSM project will not be existed and will not be achieved. We really appreciated your work therefore we invited you to this hotel to have the joy as you have earned. We also hope that this action can triggered all other districts which has not been invited to achieve the target, so they will be invited in the next round." Based on my explanation, they were all understand and smile and starting to tell their achievements.

I was happy organizing this events, eventhough I could not go everywhere while working. But I have been to Surabaya many times and there were many things to see except the malls. Surabaya is just the same city like Jakarta. The event went well as planned, and I was helped alot by the Hyatt Regency person. Thanks to mbak Retno, mbak Ratna, Pak Wayan and all crew and receptionist crew who had helped me consistently.

Tretes - Pasuruan, Resource Agency for TSSM Training for Trainer Workshop, October 2007

Another story of my workationing was to Tretes. This was my first time of arranging the workshop for a project, TSSM (Total Sanitation, Sanitation Marketing) Project. The training title was Training for Trainer of Resource Agency. Travelled through Surabaya, continued travelling with rented car by 3 hours driving, passing through Sidoarjo, the area which is now mostly covered by mud of Lapindo.

The attendees were local government of 15 districts of phase 1 in East Java, resource agencies district facilitators and other related NGO who were willing to participate and learn what is CLTS and how CLTS works, which has been successful in so many districts. The training took place in Tretes Raya Hotel - Pasuruan, for 10 days. I remembered it was fasting month, but suprisingly none of the attendees were complained and missing a day! The training itself followed by field trip to community, and practiced all the lesson to trigger the community to change their behavior to total sanitation.

As I mentioned earlier on my post - Kediri, that most of people in East Java do not have access to sanitation. The do not have latrine and toilet in their house. They just do it on everywhere, river, field, under the tree, just everywhere... The organization I am working in, trying to help Government of Indonesia to change the behavior of all people to healthy living. Lack of access to sanitation can cause many diseases. This will relate to their economic status. Mostly the people in East Java are farmer, with low income. If they keeps doing open devicating, they would easily get infected by many diseases, and the money they have earned will be paid for medical purpose instead of for other purposes for a better life.

Ok.. that's enough about the technical side. The meeting went well, we got all the number one services from the Hotel. I got the chances to see the villages (well that should not be considered a nice workationing, though, but I found it very fun... we got to see how lucky we are, living in big city with so many access to informations, educations, entertainments, and many things that they have never seen...! Thank you so much God for everything I have).

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Bangkok, nice place to shop, part 2... for unlimited budget shopping goers

Bangkok, apparently is shopping heaven not only for limited budger shopping goers, but also for unlimited budget shopping goers. Check out this shopping centers list below if you want to shop branded items before traveling and vacationing to Bangkok.

1. Central World - This place is 30% larger than any other shopping centre in central Bangkok which is open at 10 am until 9 pm, located at Ratchaprasong intersection, Pathumwan. Central World is now officially the largest lifestyle shopping complex in Southeast Asia, with an unrivalled mix of products and services at prices that put the fun back into shopping for Thai consumers and tourists. You could find many famous brand such as Zara, Miss Sixty and Timberland.
2. Siam Paragon - This place is open at 10 am until 10 pm, located at Next to Siam Centre, Pathumwan. This shopping and entertainment complex is an upmarket, five-storey colossus with so many famed international and local luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Versace, Burberry and Hermes.
   

Bangkok, nice place to shop, part 1... for low budget shopping goers

It turned out that Bangkok is a heaven for shopping goers. I didn't realize it at the first place, but when I converted the prices into IDR, all the things I got were very cheap. You might find it in stores in Jakarta, but of course the prices would be doubled or even tripled. Here is direction of places you should visit for shopping goers :

1. Suan Lum Night Bazaar - This place is open at 6 pm until 12 pm, every day. It is located at the end of Wireless Road, Bangkok. It also near the American Embassy. Suan Lum could best be described as the VIP outdoor market of Bangkok. The place is covered by walkways with centrally-located snack bars. For those of you who likes to hang out, there are several bars, close enough to analyze the crowd while enjoying a drink. Items you might find there : traditional souvenir gifts, lamps, up to date home accessories, clothes boutique shop, jewellery shops.


2. Patpong Night Market - This place is open at 6 pm until 1 am, every day. Patpong's become one of the 'must' night destinations for most shoppers, because of it's scenery.The place is always busy and chaotic with all the commotion from the GO-GO bars nearby and sexy girls. This notorious nightlife district is often the first and easiest stop for many tourists just arriving to Bangkok. Nice tips to shop in Patpong, remember not to be fooled by first impressions.


3. Chatuchak Weekend Market - This place is only open on the weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok is the mother of all markets - and possibly one of the biggest and most famous markets in the world. It has more than 15,000 stalls. For shop goers, it's realy heaven there you could find anything there... just dont forget to bargain and get some lunch...!


4. Mah Boon Krong (MBK)- This place is a legendary shopping mall which is open at 11 am until 10 pm, located at Phayathai Road, Pathumwan. The 8-storey MBK sells everything from clothing, fashion accessories, handbags, leather products and luggage to furniture, mobile phones, electric appliances, cameras, stationery and DVD's. The price? well you might find stores with bargain price there! Seriously!!


5. Big C Superstore - This place is open at 10 am until 9 pm, located at Chidlom (the opposite of CentralWorld). Eventhough it is located just the opposite side from Central World, Big C provides you with lots of discounted items. For low budget shopping goers, Big C is shopping heaven. You could find jewellry, clothes, stationary, babywear, supermarkets, and lots of other outlets such as hair salon, kids amusment center and movie theater. So, if you feel tired of walking and shopping, you could refresh yourself to hair salon or movie theater;).

Traveling tips for workationing

You might want to check out this tips below before you travel for workationing :

1. Bring all the documents needed, especially if you are traveling outside your country. Put and keep it in a safe place, do not lose it. For you who are traveling for workationing purposes, please make sure that you keep all original receipts of your offiical expenses to be claimed after you come back to the office ;)


2. Don't forget to bring suitable outfit, formal (for your official trip) and also infomal such as jeans, tshirts, jacket (if you are traveling to mountain or cold-weather places), shorts and bathing suit (if you are traveling to the beach) and also sunglasses.
   
3. Bring also sandals and shoes that is comfortable for walking.


4. Always bring with you your personal care such as medicines and amenities.


5. Camera.. don't forget to capture your action during workationing. It is realy something to remember, and sometimes it is needed for Back to office report. ;)
   
6. And now you are ready to workationing.... have a safe trip and have fun!

Kediri, East Java - 2007

My next workationing was Kediri, a small town in East Java. There is no direct route from Jakarta - Kediri, therefore I flew to Surabaya then continue travelling by car to Kediri. I have never been to Surabaya yet, so this workationing was fun to me. The purpose of this trip was getting permits from local government for Bangladesh, India and Pakistan study tour to Indonesia on Total Sanitation, Sanitation Marketing Project funded by Gates Foundation. I went down to the villages which has declared ODF (Open Devicating Free). Yes, that's true... most of people in East Java are still devicating in open air with no latrine and access to sanitation. Yuck.. isn't it...? I remembered when I was in junior high, I travelled to Jogjakarta by bus with most of friends and teachers, and I really needed to go to the bathroom on the way to a Borobudur temple. We stopped by on a villager's house to use her bathroom. She pointed me to the back of her house. I walked to the back of her house to find the bathroom, but what did I find???? I was shocked that she pointed me a river with buffalo in it. She told me to pee there!!! With 2 buffalos around me? Yuck..!!! I couldn't imagine my self to pee there, and rushed back to the bus, asked the bus driver to find me a gas station (hope there were a toilet on a gas station).

That was in 1992, but apparently now in 2008. there are so many villagers who still have no access to sanitation. Anyway, back to my original story.... I visited the ODF villages, looked around to see their latrine... Never cross in my mind that I would do such this job... Well, since they have already declared themselves as a ODF village, most of them have already have their own standard latrine. The interesting part was that they built their latrine with no subsidize from us at all! We built their awarness of cleanliness and concept of healthy by one of our program called CLTS - Community Led Total Sanitation. Nice isn't it?!