Exploring the City of Tampa
On the last day, after attending the conference for a half day, we visited Ybor City, the old city of Tampa, riding the Old Troley. Pak Harsono, Nur Yasik, Susilo, Hilal, Jati, and me. Exploring around the city, I remember Jakarta Kota, the Old Town. If only it were kept clean, safe and accessible, we can offer more to tourists, too.
It was time for those gentlemen (except Jati) to get ‘oleh-oleh’ from Tampa, so they were busy coming in and out of the stores. I had enough and did not plan on buying more things, so I just did some window shopping, and I mean it literally. Suddenly Jati called from about 50 meters away. I came over and joined him enjoying a street musician playing saxophone amazingly.
The excitement came a few minutes after the gentlemen were out from the last store, each holding some shopping bags. In a minute, Jati and I found out the source of their laughter. After paying at the cashier, they just found out that the merchandise they bought was MADE IN INDONESIA. After joining them in laughter, I mused: “ Should we laugh at ourselves or be proud of the fact that we found something made in Indonesia, there?”.
The next stop was the Florida Aquarium. We entered as a group of 6, but inside we had our own interest, and so each of us went on our own direction. We just promised to meet at the lobby on the way out. I caught some pictures of 3 turtles intertwining one another, undisturbed by the flurry of camera flashes.
On the way out, while waiting for everyone at the lobby, Jati, Pak Harsono and I entered the gift shop. There, we saw a beautiful turtle certified handy craft. A perfect ‘oleh-oleh’. And you know what? The masterpiece was MADE IN INDONESIA. We got so excited. After convincing ourselves, we decided to get it as a token.
On the way back to the hotel, I walked over the bridge behind the Sheraton and enjoyed the view of the sunset there. It was a bridge that can open up for ships to pass. Too bad, there was no ship passing while I was there. I remember the Ampera Bridge of Palembang that used to open up for ships to pass too in the old days. It was the last evening in Tampa, I had to go back to my room and started packing.
It was time for those gentlemen (except Jati) to get ‘oleh-oleh’ from Tampa, so they were busy coming in and out of the stores. I had enough and did not plan on buying more things, so I just did some window shopping, and I mean it literally. Suddenly Jati called from about 50 meters away. I came over and joined him enjoying a street musician playing saxophone amazingly.
The excitement came a few minutes after the gentlemen were out from the last store, each holding some shopping bags. In a minute, Jati and I found out the source of their laughter. After paying at the cashier, they just found out that the merchandise they bought was MADE IN INDONESIA. After joining them in laughter, I mused: “ Should we laugh at ourselves or be proud of the fact that we found something made in Indonesia, there?”.
The next stop was the Florida Aquarium. We entered as a group of 6, but inside we had our own interest, and so each of us went on our own direction. We just promised to meet at the lobby on the way out. I caught some pictures of 3 turtles intertwining one another, undisturbed by the flurry of camera flashes.
On the way out, while waiting for everyone at the lobby, Jati, Pak Harsono and I entered the gift shop. There, we saw a beautiful turtle certified handy craft. A perfect ‘oleh-oleh’. And you know what? The masterpiece was MADE IN INDONESIA. We got so excited. After convincing ourselves, we decided to get it as a token.
On the way back to the hotel, I walked over the bridge behind the Sheraton and enjoyed the view of the sunset there. It was a bridge that can open up for ships to pass. Too bad, there was no ship passing while I was there. I remember the Ampera Bridge of Palembang that used to open up for ships to pass too in the old days. It was the last evening in Tampa, I had to go back to my room and started packing.
posted by Kun Herrini at 4:49 PM
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