Reviews: Carousell Online Business

As you may know, Carousell is a online website where you can sell and/or buy items via internet. I use this website mainly for selling my used/preloved items. So, I will write this review from a seller perspective.

What I like about Carousell?

It is easy to set up. You just register, snap photo of items you would like to sell, write the description of items and post. As easy as that. You don't need a paypal account as you need for Ebay. But you can still opt to use paypal as payment method if you want to and agree by customer.

Carousell gives you freedom to discuss regarding price and postage with customers using chat available. You will receive notification whenever you get a chat message/offer to buy your items.

Lastly, buyers and sellers can exchange feedbacks which I find useful when considering with whom you dealing to sell your items. This is to avoid being scam/cheat. The more positive feedbacks you receive, the more trust can be gain from future customers. You can also share you post on social media account.

What I think can be improve?

There are many groups set up in this website where sellers can join and sell their items. However, some sellers do sell their items in wrong/inappropriate groups which make no point of setting up groups in the first place. Hope there are ways to improve this issue.

Overall, I would recommend this website to those who would like to make some pocket money/ clear your wardrobe/ sell your unused items.

Please do check my carousell page and feel free to shop with me. Link is as below:

carousell.com/fatin.ghazi

Use this code on my Carousell page to claim RM 5 off on selected items* (just write it down on chat)

FNGAFMS

Thank you.

Reviews: Mataram Hotel Malioboro

I stayed in Mataram Hotel for 5 days and 4 nights during my stays in Yogyakarta. I booked this hotel together with flight using AirAsiaGo website. It is a 3 star hotel located in Pasar Kembang Street. There is another branch of this hotel known as Mataram Hotel Malioboro 2 which located not so far from this hotel. My first impression when I arrived at this hotel was it is easy to find and has antique furniture. 

We booked a family room which has 1 double bed and 1 single bed. It has a TV on a cupboard (for cloths and storage), make up desk, 3 plug points together with one 2 pins plug adapter, sink outside the bathroom with dental kits and a private bathroom with shower together with body gel and shampoo. The room size for me is reasonable for it price (RM38/night ~ IDR 116,000/night). Some might consider it quite small. The room was clean and beds were comfortable. They also provide towels and slippers. They have room service everyday where they change the towel and dental kits.

With this price I paid, breakfast is included. What I find interesting is that, the breakfast order was taken earlier the night before and will be sent to my room at my chosen time (starts at 6am until 9/10am). Choice of breakfast is quite limited (5 options of food and 2 options for drinks). The food was acceptable. I tasted their nasi goreng/ fried rice, mee rebus/noodle soup (actually an instant chicken noodle), toast bread with strawberry jam and boiled egg. Portion and taste wise were OK. No extra points.

In term of location, it is directly opposite to Tugu Train Station which you can use to travel out of Yogyakarta to other cities of Indonesia. You can hear the sound from the train station from your room. Some people find it disturbing to sleep. For me, I was OK. It is only 10 min walking distance to Malioboro Street, famous shopping street. If you not prefer to walk, there are a lot of taxi and tricycle in front of the hotel, I personally prefer Uber due to it cheaper price. But some Uber driver may refuse to pick you up/ drop you out directly at the hotel due to it location near to the train station. FYI, Uber driver is not allow to enter the airport and train/bus station areas. 

Overall, this hotel does provide basic facilities at cheap price. My rating is as below (out of 5):

Facilities: ✩✩✩

Cleanliness:✩✩✩

Food:✩✩✩

Price:✩✩✩✩

Receptionist:✩✩✩✩

Mataram Hotel Official Website: http://hotelmataram.com/

Link to other reviews:https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Hotel_Review-g294230-d2484495-Reviews-Mataram_Hotel-Yogyakarta_Java.html

Tips and Tricks about Yogyakarta

These are things you might want to know before you visit Yogyakarta:

1. It is pronouce as Jogjakarta.
2. It is not the same as Jakarta, Indonesia Capital City. These 2 cities are far far away from each other (10h journey).
3. It currency is Indonesia Rupiah. No other currencies are accepted in this city but there are money changers and banks to change to local currency. Some attractions and well established restaurants do accept visa/master credit/debit card. 
4. Uber service is the cheapest and most convenient mean of transportation to get around city. But not to/from airport and train stations. Uber is not allow in those area. Other options available: tricycle, horse carriage, metered/non metered taxi, jogja bus, rent bicycle/motocycle. If you are a solo traveller, there are ubermoto/grabmoto where you can ride a motorcycle just like uber/grabcar.
5. Famous attarctions such as borobudur, merapi, prambanan etc in Yogyakarta are actually 1-2h car distance from Yogyakarta city. It is most convenient and cheaper to rent a car or hire a private driver aka supir. A day tour=12h tour with private car driver for 3-4adults would cost around 450,000 to 500,000 IDR.
6. They use 2 pins plug.
7. In Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, there are options of combine ticket (2 places) sell at cheaper price. If you are student, dont forget to bring your student ID. You can get half price. 
8. There are different ticket counter and ticket price for local and international tourists at borobudur and prambanan. Queue is okay on weekdays. Not sure on weekend.
9. Some attarctions like Kalibiru have different entrance ticket fee price on weekdays vs weekend.
10. Try to plan your trip to visit places in the morning and evening because afternoon (12-3pm) in Yogyakarta can be very hot. Dont forget your hat, sunblock and water bottles.
11. Be careful with cleanliness of places you plan to eat. Try to avoid ice cubes. I rather pay extra to eat at proper clean restaurants.
12. Some areas do charge government fee before you enter. For example, to enter Merapi area and Pantai Parangtritis area. 
13. Taxi driver to airport will need you to pay the fee at the entrance gate. 2000 IDR.
14. There is a lot of motorcycle in Yogya and traffic can be quite heavy in the city to/from airport area.Without traffic jam, journey to/from airport would takes 30 min. During heavy traffic it can takes up to 1h30m. Do plan your journey.
15. Please do bargain before you buy anything. Pasar Beringharjo sells cheaper items than Malioboro. But the place close at 4pm and more crowded than Malioboro.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comment below. I will try my best to answer your questions. 

5D4N itinerary to Yogyakarta, Indonesia 🇲🇨

I just got back from Yogyakarta (pronounce: Jogjakarta) 3 days ago. Here, I would like to share in short my 5D4N trip with my 2 sisters. This itinerary is for those who would like to cover as many places as possible (more about been there, done that and photos). If you are like me, here is the itinerary:

24th July 2017 (Monday)

• Arrived at Adisutjipto International Airport @ 11.20 am from Kuala Lumpur via AirAsia flight (Journey takes 2h40m)
• Went straight to Hotel Mataram Malioboro using airport taxi. (Fyi, Uber is not allow to enter the airport area)
• Lunch at Gubug Mang Engking (mainly seafood)

• Stroll around Malioboro street and Pasar Beringharjo (walking distance from hotel). This is a shopping street. 

• Dessert at famous Tempo Gelato in Prawirotaman street

25th July 2017 (Tuesday)

• Sunrise at Punthuk Setumbu. Our journey from Yogya started at 3.30am and arrived in Punthuk Setumbu at 4.30 am. We rent a 12hours private driver service aka "supir" from Jogja Jaya Trans tour (refer contact details below). We then hiking for 15-20min and stayed there for an hour.

(Amazing scenery)

• Borobudur temple. 15 min journey from Punthuk Setumbu. Spent 1h 30m here.

• Breakfast at BS resto. Menus here covered international, asian and local foods.

(My sister had chicken steak and we shared seafood soup)

• Went to Merapi Mount for jeep tour. Journey to Mount Merapi was 1h15min from Borobudur. We took a "medium" Jeep tour package for 2-2.5h. There is also a shorter and longer tour options provided by many jeep tour operators. 

(Mount Merapi at the back was covered by clouds)

• Next, 45 min journey to Prambanan temple. We spent only 1h here as the weather at 2.30pm was very hot. We only visit Prambanan temple. There were 3 other temples in that area but we did not explore.

• Lunch at Abhayagiri restaurant (part of a hotel/resort). 10-15 min from Prambanan Temple.

• Arrived at our hotel @ 5.30pm

26th July 2017 (Wednesday)

• Started our private tour with Jogja Jaya Trans tour again (same driver) @ 8am to Kota Gede. This place is famous for silver and chocolate manufacturing.
• Went to Hutan Pinus Manggunan. We spent 1h30min here.

(You need to hire this hammock)

• Next, a quick photo stop at Jurang Tembelan.

• Lunch at Ayam goreng kampung Embak Som

• At 2.00pm make our way to Gumuk Pasir/ Sand dunes Parangtritis. This place is famous for sandboarding for those who is interested.

• Sunset @5.00pm at Pantai Parangtritis.

• Dinner at Sekar Kedhaton on our way back to yogya. This restaurant is at the same place where you visit the silver shop in Kota Gede.

• Arrived at our hotel @ 8pm.

27th July 2017 (Thursday)

• Went to Keraton/Yogyakarta Palace @9.30am using Uber. There is a cultural show here everyday at around 10-11am (except during Muslim Holy Month- Ramadhan)

• Went to Taman Sari

• Lunch at Via Via Cafe (Western restaurant) in Prawirotaman street
• Had coffee at Sellie Coffee
• Shopping at Pasar Beringharjo and Malioboro street
• Dinner at Pizza Hut at Malioboro Mall.

28th July 2017 (Friday)

• Check out hotel @12pm.
• Lunch at food court at Malioboro Mall.

• Journey to airport should be 30 min. But do expect heavy traffic in yogya. So my journey to airport using metered taxi took us almost 1h.
• Flight to Kuala Lumpur @5.30pm

Here are details and useful links to plan your trip to Yogyakarta: 

Hotel Mataram Malioboro

Jalan Pasar Kembang No. 61, Yogyakarta, 55271 Indonesia

Tel: 62 (274) 581721

Fax: 62 (21) 7291877

JogjaJayaTrans

Contact Person : *Wisnu Widianto* 

Phone number  : +6281 328 528 191 

Whats App       : +6287 839 598 777

Useful blog:http://www.yogya-backpacker.com

I will write my reviews regarding above places in my next post. Stay tune.