Wollangi Syariah Hotel Makassar: Alaska Toko's Best-Kept Secret?
Wollangi Syariah Hotel Makassar: Did I Just Uncover a Gem? (Or a Slightly Tarnished Treasure?) - A Totally Honest Review
Okay, folks, buckle up. I've just emerged from the… well, the experience that is Wollangi Syariah Hotel Makassar. And let me tell you, it's a rollercoaster. They call it "Alaska Toko's Best-Kept Secret?" – and honestly, after navigating the Makassar traffic and feeling like I'd aged a decade by the time I arrived, I kind of understood the "secret" part. But is it a good secret? That, my friends, is the question.
First, the Basics (and the Annoying Checklist):
Let’s rip this band-aid off first and go through the SEO stuff because, you know, gotta.
Accessibility: This is a mixed bag. The elevator is a godsend (especially after a long day of… whatever you do in Makassar), but actual wheelchair accessibility? I'm not a wheelchair user, but from what I could see, it's… mostly there. Ramps are present, but the hallways seemed a bit narrow. Accessibility score: 6/10 (more effort needed).
Internet: Praise the Wi-Fi gods! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! And it’s actually decent. I mean, I streamed a couple of episodes of something trashy on Netflix without wanting to hurl my laptop out the window. There's also Internet [LAN] if you're a dinosaur. Internet services are available. Wi-Fi in public areas is also solid, though I think it might have been a little spotty in the lobby at one point. Internet is good.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax:
Okay, this is where things get… interesting.
- Swimming Pool: You know, the swimming pool itself is lovely! Swimming pool [outdoor] is fine too, it's nice and looks awesome in the pics, with a view. But and it’s a beautiful set up, just for you, if you didn't want anything else, you'd like it. The Pool with a view is cool!
- Spa/Sauna/Gym: This is where my enthusiasm waned slightly. The spa and sauna felt… a little neglected. The Fitness center, aka the Gym/fitness, was functional, but let's say it wasn't exactly cutting-edge equipment. I'm sure you could sweat, but I kept thinking, "Is this a real thing?", or "Is this real life?". The Massage service is available. Foot bath is available. Spa/sauna is available. Steamroom is also available. Body scrub and Body wrap are on offer! And all these things is a nice place to chill. But all said, the relaxation elements felt a little… tired. Score: 6/10 (potential to be amazing!)
Cleanliness and Safety: Trying to Breathe Easy
Look, I'm a bit of a germaphobe. The current global situation doesn't help. So this is important.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Okay, I didn’t actually see them, but the room and the hotel looked clean and not like the hell-hole I was fearing.
- Breakfast in room: Yes, you can get your breakfast served to your door!
- Breakfast takeaway service: You can also grab your breakfast to go!
- Cashless payment service: Yesss, this is good!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: They're trying! I saw staff wiping stuff down regularly.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Good to have.
- First aid kit: Check.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere! I felt slightly less panicked.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Phew!
- Hygiene certification: I didn't actually check but the hotel wasn't disgusting, thank goodness!
- Individually-wrapped food options: Some, but not all.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Mostly adhered to. Not perfect, but better than some places.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: I did see someone in a hazmat suit once, which I took as a good sign.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: If you're a hard-core "no germs" type, you can decline.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Pretty sure they did this.
- Safe dining setup: See below.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Hopefully.
- Shared stationery removed: Good. (RIP, pen. I liked pens.)
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed like it.
- Sterilizing equipment: Present.
- Score: 7/10 (Effort made) and a sigh of relief.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Food, Glorious Food (Maybe?)
Ah, the food. This can make or break a hotel experience.
- A la carte in restaurant: Check.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Seems to have.
- Asian breakfast: Yes.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Yes.
- Bar: Yes. But not a raucous one. More… subdued.
- Bottle of water: Provided. Always a winner.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yes! And it was… okay. The Breakfast service was decent. I got to indulge in the Asian breakfast at the Buffet in restaurant, which was pretty satisfying.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes. And decent too.
- Coffee shop: Yes.
- Desserts in restaurant: Present.
- Happy hour: Maybe. I wasn't sure, I was afraid to ask.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Present.
- Poolside bar: Yes, which is awesome!
- Restaurants: Plural!
- Room service [24-hour]: Always a bonus!
- Salad in restaurant: Yep.
- Snack bar: Yes.
- Soup in restaurant: Yep.
- Vegetarian restaurant: I think the hotel cater for vegetarian guests.
- Western breakfast: Yes again.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Present again.
- Score: 7/10 (Could be amazing with a bit more oomph.)
My specific dining experience: During my stay, I had a particular craving for a simple soup. I ordered some from the Soup in restaurant, and I have to say, the broth was rather bland. It was edible, sure, but I've had more flavorful instant ramen. This soured the experience a little. But let's be fair – soup is a tricky mistress.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
This is where Wollangi shines a bit brighter.
- Air conditioning in public area: Glorious, especially in the Makassar heat.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: I didn't attend any, but it's available.
- Business facilities: Okay for basic needs.
- Cash withdrawal: Easy peasy.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out: ✅ Thank you, technology!
- Convenience store: Small, but handy.
- Currency exchange: Useful.
- Daily housekeeping: Efficient.
- Doorman: Nice touch.
- Dry cleaning: Available.
- Elevator: Essential!
- Essential condiments: Provided.
- Facilities for disabled guests: (see accessibility above).
- Food delivery: Yes.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Tiny, but there.
- Indoor venue for special events: Available.
- Invoice provided: Easy.
- Ironing service: Yes.
- Laundry service: Yes.
- Luggage storage: No issues.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Present.
- Meetings: Available.
- Meeting stationery: Possibly?
- On-site event hosting: Yes.
- Outdoor venue for special events: Yes.
- Projector/LED display: I'm guessing, maybe?
- Safety deposit boxes: Yep.
- Seminars: Available.
- Shrine: (I'm not sure why this is listed, but it's there. Interesting, I guess?)
- Smoking area: Yes.
- Terrace: Available.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Probably.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Yes.
- Score: 8/10 (Solid and practical!)
For the Kids: Family-Friendly Fun? Yes! they were fine!
- Babysitting service:
- Family/child friendly: *
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, 'cause we're about to dive headfirst into my chaotic Makassar adventure, all starting from the hallowed halls (and questionable Wi-Fi) of the Urbanview Hotel Wollangi Syariah. Get ready for a whirlwind of questionable food choices, near-misses with rogue scooters, and an emotional rollercoaster I'm still trying to unpack.
The Unofficial Makassar Mess: A Mostly Structured Itinerary (Spoiler Alert: It's Lying)
Day 1: Arrival, Alhamdulillah (and Initial Panic)
- 8:00 AM: Touchdown at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport. The air hits me like a warm, humid blanket. I love/hate it already. Passport control is surprisingly smooth, which is a relief because I've been dreaming (read: stressing) about this trip for weeks.
- 9:00 AM: Cab ride. My driver, a lovely (though slightly chatty) older gentleman named Pak Agus, blasts dangdut music. I have no idea what he's saying, but the rhythm is infectious, and I spend the entire ride bobbing my head. He tells me, with wide eyes, that I must try the Coto Makassar. "The best!" he proclaims with the authority of a seasoned culinary guru. Note taken, Pak Agus. Note taken.
- 10:00 AM: Check-in at Urbanview. The room is… well, it's a room. Clean enough, I guess. The air conditioning blows a questionable draft, but hey, I'm alive.
- 11:00 AM: Wandering. I take my first tentative steps into the Makassar heat, armed with my camera and a vague sense of direction. First impressions? Chaos. Beautiful, glorious chaos. Motorbikes whizzing past. Vendors hawking everything from durian (the smell alone is an experience) to… things I can't identify.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch - Trying to find this "Coto Makassar" Pak Agus raved about. Wandering in a sweaty, slightly frantic huddle of tourists and local food-sellers. "Coto! Coto!" I repeat, pointing, praying. I finally find what I think is Coto Makassar. It's a thick, earthy broth filled with… things. Some delicious, some… less so. I'm pretty sure I ate a bit of lung. Delicious, though. Surprisingly delicious.
- 2:00 PM: Fort Rotterdam. Okay, this is actually pretty cool. History! Ancient walls! Beautiful views of the sea! The only downside? The intense heat. I swear, I could feel my brain slowly melting.
- 4:00 PM: Coffee break. Found a tiny, hole-in-the-wall coffee shop and gulped down a ridiculously strong iced coffee. Life-saving.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Attempt 2 at Coto Makassar. Different place, different flavors. Still good, but nothing can top the first bizarre, lung-filled experience. My stomach is confused, but happy.
- 8:00 PM: Bed. Collapse. The day has won. Sleep. Sweet, glorious sleep.
Day 2: Floods and Food Poisening
- 7:00 AM: Woken by a pounding headache. I can barely remember the day before. Something wrong, possibly contaminated food from the street.
- 9:00 AM: Puke time, this is it.
- 11:00 AM: Still sick. This is not how I planned my trip.
- 1:00 PM: Finally feeling somewhat better. The hotel staff are oddly unfazed by my near-death experience.
- 2:00 PM: Decide to explore the city again. Try the old city.
- 3:00 PM: Attempt to get to the water.
- 4:00 PM: Get lost.
- 6:00 PM: Attempt at getting food again. This time something light. Rice.
- 8:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Sleep, more sleep.
Day 3: Tana Toraja - A Day Trip (A BIG Mistake, Probably)
- 6:00 AM: Wake up. This might be the worst decision of the trip and start my trek to Tana Toraja.
- 12:00 PM: Still in the minibus. It's a long journey.
- 3:00 PM: Arrived in Tana Toraja. The landscape is stunning, lush green mountains. I felt the sudden change from hot urban environment to a serene area.
- 4:00 PM: Visit a local Torajan village, Lemo. The graves are carved into the cliffs.
- 5:00 PM: Visit the baby graves. This sight had a profound effect on me. I realized how strange, and yet beautiful, the diversity of the world is.
- 7:00 PM: Head back to the minibus.
- 1:00 AM: Finally arriving back in the hotel after the long trip. Exhaustion at max.
Day 4: The Island Escape That Nearly Didn't Happen (And I'm Glad It Did!)
- 9:00 AM: Still recovering from the Tana Toraja trip. I barely want to move from my hotel room. But, I need the beach.
- 11:00 AM: Boat to Samalona Island. The water is a crystal turquoise. The sand is white. I spend a whole day getting sunburnt. Snorkeling is great.
- 5:00 PM: The boat back to Makassar faces a huge storm. I nearly throw up.
- 6:00 PM: Safely back to Makassar. More Coto Makassar is on the menu and I'm not arguing.
Day 5: Reflection and Departure
- 9:00 AM: Morning is for regret and relief.
- 10:00 AM: Buying souvenirs.
- 12:00 PM: Final meal. Trying a restaurant I found on the internet. No surprises.
- 2:00 PM: Check out the hotel.
- 3:00 PM: One last look at Makassar.
- 4:00 PM: Airport. Goodbye Makassar.
Important Notes & Ramblings:
- Food: Embrace the street food! But maybe ask for some guidance on where to eat. My stomach has been through a lot.
- Transportation: Brace yourself for the chaos. Motorbikes are EVERYWHERE. Crossing the street is a life-or-death experience.
- Heat: Drink water. Constantly. Seriously. You'll sweat like you've never sweat before.
- People: The locals are genuinely friendly and welcoming. Don't be afraid to ask for help or directions.
- The Hotel: The Urbanview? It's a place to lay your head. Don't expect luxury. Do expect a slightly dodgy Wi-Fi connection.
- Overall: Makassar is an assault on the senses – in the best possible way. It's messy, it's loud, it's beautiful, and it's unlike anything I've ever experienced. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I pack more Pepto-Bismol? Definitely. This trip was a perfect mix of joy, frustration, and pure, unadulterated human experience. And that, my friends, is what makes travel truly worthwhile.
So, like, why *would* someone even bother creating a course in the first place? Isn't the internet already overflowing with them?
Oh honey, the internet is, like, a digital buffet. And yes, there's a LOT. But you, you magnificent creature, have something different. Something unique. Maybe you're a knitting ninja, and your technique is smoother than a top-shelf cashmere. Maybe you can code circles around the guys who wrote the code *for* the circles. The point is, if you're passionate about something, and people keep asking you how you do it? Ding ding ding! Course time!
For me? Years back, I was drowning in debt and a soul-crushing office job. I knew Photoshop was *my* something. So I created a course, just a simple one on photo editing. It started with five students. Then ten. Then, bam! Freedom. Okay, not *instant* freedom, but it was the seed of something amazing. It meant I could ditch the office and finally pursue my weird, creative passions. And that, my friends, is pure freaking gold.
Alright, fine, I'm convinced. But where do I even *start*? My brain already hurts.
Ugh, I feel you. Starting is the hardest part, like wrestling a greased piglet. But, breathe. First thing: What are you brilliant at? What do your friends constantly ask you about? What are people *willing* to pay for? Don't try to teach brain surgery if you flunked Biology. (Unless…you're planning a course on *avoiding* brain surgery? 🤔 Okay, maybe that *could* work...)
Next, the audience: Who are you trying to reach? Beginner? Advanced? Knowing this helps shape EVERYTHING – from the language you use to the level of detail. This is also where you need to start thinking about your course content. Outline EVERYTHING. Seriously. Even if it’s scribbled on a napkin.
How long should the course *be*? Like, I don't want to bore people to death, but I also don't want to shortchange them…
See, this is a tricky one. I've spent hours wrestling with this, like, staring at the ceiling, hyperventilating. *Shorter* courses are often better. People are busy! BUT (and it's a big but), make sure you cover the essential bits. Quality over quantity, always.
My biggest course ever was about…well, let's just say it involved creating websites. It ballooned to like 40 hours. Sounds impressive, right? Total disaster. Burnout city, population, me. The content was good, but it was *too much*. People would start, get overwhelmed by the sheer volume, and bail. Ugh. Now I aim for quality, succinct modules. Get to the point. Be efficient. Keep it engaging.
Video? Text? How do I *present* the information? I'm already feeling self-conscious.
Oh, the dreaded "on camera" thing? I get you. Think about how *you* learn best. Are you a visual learner? Auditory? A combination? I love a good video, but I'm also an avid reader. Mix it up. Incorporate videos, text documents, worksheets, quizzes. Keep it varied!
And the self-consciousness? Yeah, yeah, we all have it. My first video…omg, I think I blinked every three seconds. My voice cracked. I stumbled over words. I looked like a deer caught in headlights. But you know what? People didn't care! They want to learn. Just be authentic. Be yourself. If you mess up? Laugh it off. People love relatable humans. Embrace the imperfections! They make you endearing. (And trust me, editing is your friend.)
What about the actual technical stuff? Hosting platforms and stuff? I'm technologically challenged...
Okay, this is where my eyes start to glaze over a *little bit*. There are a TON of platforms out there. Think: Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, Podia... They all have their pros and cons. Do your research! (I know, more work. I'm sorry.)
My personal experience? Well...let's just say I’ve bounced around. One platform kept crashing on me. Another was user-unfriendly. The learning curve felt like scaling Mount Everest. Finally, I settled on [Insert a Platform Name Here] – it's user-friendly enough for me, which is saying *something*. But really, trial and error. Try the free trials. Build a course dummy on each. See what clicks. Don't be afraid to switch if it's not working.
How do you price the thing? This is where the panic sets in.
*Deep breaths*. Pricing is a minefield. Don't undersell yourself, but don't price yourself out of the market. Research your competition. What are similar courses selling for? Remember to factor in your time, the value of your expertise, and the cost of the platform.
I made a HUGE mistake with my first course. I charged next to nothing, basically, because I was terrified of failure. I thought I'd get thousands of students. I got…a few. And I felt undervalued. It was a hard lesson. Value your time, your knowledge, and the transformation you're offering.
Okay, okay, fine. I've built the course. Now what? How do I actually sell it?
Ah, the marketing monster rears its ugly head. Where do I begin? (And honestly, this is where I still struggle, even after years.)
You need a website, or at least a landing page. You need to build an email list. You should probably be on social media. (Ugh, I know the feeling. I often wonder if all this social media obsession is just ruining me.) Promote the hell out of it! Offer a freebie to build your email list (a checklist, a short video, etc.). Run ads (or learn to, because organic reach is a *nightmare* these days). Connect with other people in your niche for collaborations. And pray. No seriously, it’s a hustle. It's a grind. It's work. Did I mention it's work?
I actually had a moment where I got so frustrated with marketing I just quit for a while. It was a serious struggle. I felt like I was shouting into a void. But…I regrouped. I learned from my mistakes. And you know what? It *does* eventually pay off, Slowly, grindingly, usually.
