CC! Just a tip regarding the capturing flashing error messages. You could use video instead taking a photo. Or record screen as you work through the app.
You would think that would be perfectly obvious to me. Especially since I'm shooting video for hours practically every day. And I did think of that option later on. I kicked myself for trying to take pictures instead. But at the time, for some reason, it never occurred to me. And I follow this complicated procedure of trying to time the exact millisecond that a photo is taken. So dumb. 😁
Hi Doug. Thanks for the kind mention. I also struggled with the KAI app but eventually was successful. Regarding the OYO 'Sorry we don't accept online bookings' same thing happened to me in Phuket lol. On my 1st trip to Medan 20 years ago to meet up with my Father, I took a ferry from Penang to Belawan (and loved it). I completely get why you'd prefer a boat vs plane, it's all in the journey. Enjoy yours. STL
You're lucky you got to take one of the Penang-Belawan ferries. It's unfortunate that they don't run anymore. People online are routinely asking about these ferries and whether they are running now. I guess it's a good sign that Indomal Fast Ferry has started up the Port Dickson to Tanjung Balai (Asahan) route. Entering and exiting Sumatra via Tanjung Balai is not nearly as fast and efficient as going through Belawan/Medan, but there seem to be more than enough passengers for the route to be economically feasible for a ferry company to operate. The vast majority of my problems with the KAI app were my own fault. 🤪 For one thing, I should have known it existed. I guess I didn't do my due diligence for the trip. And for some reason, I was't able to locate the controls to change the language to English. I actually had a long section of this video in which I went on and on about navigating the app in Indonesian and all the problems I had. But I deleted all that because it was so long but also because I eventually learned that there WAS an English menu option. I was just too dumb to locate it.
Agreed. Karina was awesome. I was actually at her window for a lot longer than I show in this video, and she was very patient and answered all my questions and made sure I ended up with the train ticket I needed.
Ah! You're right. Thank you. I glanced at the name tag when I was at the train station, and somehow I thought it said Katrina. But in the video, I can see that it is actually Karina. I'll correct things as much as I can. Too late for the video, though. I can't change anything in that. 🙂
Yes, I hadn't thought of it from that point of view. It would be expensive to buy two seats on anything in North America. But it is an option in this part of the world depending on the country and how its currency stacks up against the US dollar.
Perhaps audio always seems poor to me because I'm generally watching videos on a smartphone using the smartphone speakers. Perhaps with headphones, the voices of other people would be more audible. But I'd still like something better for these casual street encounters. Recently, when I've had a tour guide at a museum or people at a restaurant were willing to talk to me for a long time and tell me about the place, I made the effort of putting a separate microphone on them. Then I really love that audio quality. But I can't do that to every person who stops to chat with me for a minute. 😀
Unfortunately, no, I don't really have plans to return to Myanmar right now. If I had the money and the opportunity, I know I'd enjoy it. I saw only a small part of the country before. There is lots left to see and experience. But I think I have to do other things.
@@PlanetDoug Thanks for your quick reply. As you already know Myanmar is not very safe for foreigners in this situation but some foreigners are still coming here.
I don't know if I'll ever make it there. If I had tons of money, I suppose I would hop on a flight and check the place out. But I'm not really that drawn to the island. The name Borneo has a magical quality to it. It's a very romantic and old name. When people say "Borneo" it conjures up images of a vast and wild, wild jungle. But in the travel videos I've seen from Borneo, it doesn't look that wild or jungly. I guess you can pay to go into the jungle to look for orangutang and things like that. But regular day-to-day life and travel there doesn't seem that exotic. I just started watching Paddy Doyle's videos from Borneo. We'll see if I find them inspiring. 😀
I agree. Also, the interaction with customer is clear because of the microphone and large window. There should be a tablet for each rep to help 1st time commuter to book and pay directly at the counter or help them download the app on to their phone.
Well, to be fair, it was 99% my fault. I always manage to make things as difficult as possible. I suppose the one way the Customer Service reps at the train station let me down was to never actually tell me about the "Access by KAI" app. Had the first Customer Service rep told me about the app on my first visit to the train station weeks ago, everything would have been easy. But the app is so well known here that they just assumed I knew about it. 🤪 But I wasn't aware it existed. Once I downloaded the app and figured out how to use it, everything was easy.
Anyone should be able to book and pay ticket directly at the counter. It should just be that easy. Karina the customer rep is doing a good job but the system is not friendly for a foreigner or 1st time commuter.
@selfreflection2117 There was a kind of funny addendum to this experience. As I talked about in the video (and the last time I went to the train station), the problem is that you CAN'T buy a ticket in advance if you go to the train station in person. The only way to actually buy a ticket in person at the ticket window is to show up the same day that the train leaves. And then when I took the ferry to Port Dickson, I met another passenger on the ferry. He was a young man from Malaysia. And he tried to take the train from Medan to Tanjung Balai, just like me. AND he went to the train station on the day the train left to buy his ticket. BUT the train was sold out. He couldn't even get a ticket because they were all gone. So, you can't win no matter what you do. Of course, I told this Malaysian man about the Access by KAI app and how you have to download the app to buy a ticket in advance. This poor guy got in much more trouble than I did because he ended up hiring a private car and driver to take him to Tanjung Balai through the night. And it was very expensive. Too bad he didn't know about the app beforehand.
CC!
Just a tip regarding the capturing flashing error messages. You could use video instead taking a photo. Or record screen as you work through the app.
You would think that would be perfectly obvious to me. Especially since I'm shooting video for hours practically every day. And I did think of that option later on. I kicked myself for trying to take pictures instead. But at the time, for some reason, it never occurred to me. And I follow this complicated procedure of trying to time the exact millisecond that a photo is taken. So dumb. 😁
Hi Doug. Thanks for the kind mention. I also struggled with the KAI app but eventually was successful. Regarding the OYO 'Sorry we don't accept online bookings' same thing happened to me in Phuket lol. On my 1st trip to Medan 20 years ago to meet up with my Father, I took a ferry from Penang to Belawan (and loved it). I completely get why you'd prefer a boat vs plane, it's all in the journey. Enjoy yours. STL
You're lucky you got to take one of the Penang-Belawan ferries. It's unfortunate that they don't run anymore. People online are routinely asking about these ferries and whether they are running now.
I guess it's a good sign that Indomal Fast Ferry has started up the Port Dickson to Tanjung Balai (Asahan) route. Entering and exiting Sumatra via Tanjung Balai is not nearly as fast and efficient as going through Belawan/Medan, but there seem to be more than enough passengers for the route to be economically feasible for a ferry company to operate.
The vast majority of my problems with the KAI app were my own fault. 🤪 For one thing, I should have known it existed. I guess I didn't do my due diligence for the trip. And for some reason, I was't able to locate the controls to change the language to English. I actually had a long section of this video in which I went on and on about navigating the app in Indonesian and all the problems I had. But I deleted all that because it was so long but also because I eventually learned that there WAS an English menu option. I was just too dumb to locate it.
Well done Doug. Your persistence paid off. Credit to Katrina at customer service . She was very helpful and puts many in other countries to shame .
Agreed. Karina was awesome. I was actually at her window for a lot longer than I show in this video, and she was very patient and answered all my questions and made sure I ended up with the train ticket I needed.
Doug, her name is Karina. 😊
Ah! You're right. Thank you. I glanced at the name tag when I was at the train station, and somehow I thought it said Katrina. But in the video, I can see that it is actually Karina. I'll correct things as much as I can. Too late for the video, though. I can't change anything in that. 🙂
Cc no I have never done that. Too expensive in the United States
Yes, I hadn't thought of it from that point of view. It would be expensive to buy two seats on anything in North America. But it is an option in this part of the world depending on the country and how its currency stacks up against the US dollar.
Excellent report, Doug!
I could hear the guy on the scooter you spoke with as could yt cc
Perhaps audio always seems poor to me because I'm generally watching videos on a smartphone using the smartphone speakers. Perhaps with headphones, the voices of other people would be more audible. But I'd still like something better for these casual street encounters.
Recently, when I've had a tour guide at a museum or people at a restaurant were willing to talk to me for a long time and tell me about the place, I made the effort of putting a separate microphone on them. Then I really love that audio quality. But I can't do that to every person who stops to chat with me for a minute. 😀
@PlanetDoug good point. I was watching it on my TV. But still the cc picked it up for what it's worth.
Do you have any plans to come to Myanmar again?
Unfortunately, no, I don't really have plans to return to Myanmar right now. If I had the money and the opportunity, I know I'd enjoy it. I saw only a small part of the country before. There is lots left to see and experience. But I think I have to do other things.
@@PlanetDoug Thanks for your quick reply. As you already know Myanmar is not very safe for foreigners in this situation but some foreigners are still coming here.
When are going to explore Borneo? 😄
I don't know if I'll ever make it there. If I had tons of money, I suppose I would hop on a flight and check the place out. But I'm not really that drawn to the island. The name Borneo has a magical quality to it. It's a very romantic and old name. When people say "Borneo" it conjures up images of a vast and wild, wild jungle. But in the travel videos I've seen from Borneo, it doesn't look that wild or jungly. I guess you can pay to go into the jungle to look for orangutang and things like that. But regular day-to-day life and travel there doesn't seem that exotic. I just started watching Paddy Doyle's videos from Borneo. We'll see if I find them inspiring. 😀
No more tourists please..already overwhelmed with tourists.
CC
Is there a shorter version…?
Unfortunately, this IS the shorter version. I shot a lot more video about this experience than I ended up using. 😎
@@PlanetDoug ...😵
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha 🥴🥴🥴🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼
Karina is beautiful. 😊
I agree. Also, the interaction with customer is clear because of the microphone and large window.
There should be a tablet for each rep to help 1st time commuter to book and pay directly at the counter or help them download the app on to their phone.
Doug….the drama queen😂
I think there's a typo in your comment. Maybe what you meant to say is, "Doug.. the consummate storyteller." 🤪
oh my Gosh what bad experience with the ticket ....😿😿😈
Well, to be fair, it was 99% my fault. I always manage to make things as difficult as possible. I suppose the one way the Customer Service reps at the train station let me down was to never actually tell me about the "Access by KAI" app. Had the first Customer Service rep told me about the app on my first visit to the train station weeks ago, everything would have been easy. But the app is so well known here that they just assumed I knew about it. 🤪 But I wasn't aware it existed. Once I downloaded the app and figured out how to use it, everything was easy.
Anyone should be able to book and pay ticket directly at the counter. It should just be that easy.
Karina the customer rep is doing a good job but the system is not friendly for a foreigner or 1st time commuter.
@selfreflection2117 There was a kind of funny addendum to this experience. As I talked about in the video (and the last time I went to the train station), the problem is that you CAN'T buy a ticket in advance if you go to the train station in person. The only way to actually buy a ticket in person at the ticket window is to show up the same day that the train leaves.
And then when I took the ferry to Port Dickson, I met another passenger on the ferry. He was a young man from Malaysia. And he tried to take the train from Medan to Tanjung Balai, just like me. AND he went to the train station on the day the train left to buy his ticket. BUT the train was sold out. He couldn't even get a ticket because they were all gone.
So, you can't win no matter what you do. Of course, I told this Malaysian man about the Access by KAI app and how you have to download the app to buy a ticket in advance. This poor guy got in much more trouble than I did because he ended up hiring a private car and driver to take him to Tanjung Balai through the night. And it was very expensive. Too bad he didn't know about the app beforehand.
oh boy.. Medan sure is a filthy city.. and very Islamic too..