[munitalP]

Jakarta Trip 2008

Friday 25th April

My final itinerary arrived by email. MEL / SYD / SIN / CKG (Jakarta) / SIN / SYD / MEL

Ahh, wonderful – another day at the office, 6 flights in 3 days & 5 days planning…

The plan was to fly to Singapore Sunday, stay the night, return Jakarta Monday, stay the night in Singapore then return home Tuesday.
Accommodation had been booked for the two of us at the Novotel Clarke Quay – in my opinion one of the better located hotels in Singapore along with a 4 ½ star service

Next came booking a driver to get us to and from airports and hotels – I chose my usual (here’s a plug for them), Limo Maxi (their web address is www.limomaxi.com). After exchanging a couple of emails confirming that there were 4 jobs over the 3 days, a conformation was sent with the drivers name, details and meeting location and importantly, the cost. By the way – all cars are Mercedes

Changi / Clarke Quay (2200hrs or so) S$45.00 – Return – S$52.00 (0500 hrs). After 0600 hrs, the cost return is the same – S$45.00

Sunday 27th April
MEL / SYD – QF 426 & QF05

Melbourne was busy. I think Sunday was the busiest I have seen MEL on a weekend. Business class line was short – thank God for little mercies…
I checked my luggage (my Samsonite hard) through to SIN and asked the check in lady what my chances of an OP-UP SYD/SIN were (jokingly). She had a close hard look at the flight then proceeded to explain to me how the system worked. She had me standing off to the side so I could see her computer screen and she showed me the flight. She indicated the flight was over sold by 9 seats then went down the list of pointy bit flyers showing me the CL and the WP flyers. She then pointed out there were 3 seats left in J and my name was one away from the “next OP-UP” with a high probability (she said) of it happening – check when you get to Sydney Mr! and “you should be right).

She issued me seat 2A (this was an OP-UP) and 47B (!) for the international leg. (herein lies the problem of booking long haul flights a few days out with seat allocation…)

Through security I went and up to the QC for a coffee and a short wait for my flight.

I boarded the 738 and took my assigned seat and relaxed, this was my first flight of a long day in aircraft. Out came my trusty iPod (which I had loaded with a further 10GB of fresh music only days before) and shortly after the safety demonstration and well before the seatbelt lights went out, Amy Winehouse was serenading me with her soulful melodies and extraordinary voice – hold on, this isn’t a music report, I’ll start again…

…yo - well before dem seatbelt glows were off, I had some tunes pumping in my NCHP’s yo, and zoned out for some zeds.. what you lookin at mofo? I’ll stick a cap in your…

Hold on, I’ll go back to the first one, Amy Winehouse – I was quickly asleep and the gentle spine jarring slamming into the ground of the plane in Sydney awoke me.

I unraveled the headphone lead from around my neck and put the iPod in the seat pocket, then found my Oakley’s (on the floor under the next seat) which had been dislodged at sometime during my slumber, waited for the plane to stop and disembarked.

I wandered down to the international transfer lounge and waited no more than 5 minutes for a bus to set off in the general direction of international. For not the first time in my life I wondered why this bus wasn’t replaced with a monorail similar to many of the other airports around the world.

As I disembarked the bus, my traveling companion called me, he had arrived at the airport and was waiting for me at the Qantas counter.

I found my way there and we proceeded to the Qantas First check in area. SHAME ON YOU SYDNEY! Do something about the First Class check in.
After the necessary formalities, my companion was checked in (he was allocated the A seat – he has no profile preference – my profile is forward window – how does that work?) and we wandered through immigration (express) and off in search for some SIN $$$.

Yep, them money changers (Travelex) sure know how to rip us off… The toothless geriatric three legged pit bull we call the ACCC should take a close look at these mongrels – it is a con, absolute disgrace to this wonderful nation that these people get away with the robbery of exchanging currency in this country. I took S$200 cash on my Visa and it cost me a couple of dollars short of a 1 to 1 exchange rate. It should have cost me $164 on today’s spot rate at Westpac however cost me $191.55 at Travelex. You thieves Travelex.

We wandered upstairs to the First Lounge and were welcomed in like they knew us. A wonderful lunch was had, my companion had a burger and I had the calamari, along with a couple of beers.



While there, I requested through the internet upgrades to J for our return leg then went over to the main counter to try and snag an upgrade to J. No such luck – obviously things had changed in the last couple of hours and I was stuck in 47B. Oh well, it’s only 8 hours…

We boarded on time and I started to prepare myself for 8 hours of elbow room fighting and the seat in front of me 6 inches from my face. I made room in the overhead locker for my bag (a rucksack type laptop bag in this instance) then rummaged around for my iPod. Where’s my iPod?

ARRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…. The scream echoed around the cabin, babies started to scream, mothers cried, men trembled – well ok, maybe I said the F word a few times and I didn’t really make babies scream – but I wanted to! My iPod was in the storage pocket on 2A – my last flight – it was like I had lost a loved one, the tears came to my eyes, I was trembling, there was pain in my body, there was a lady wearing stilettos standing on my foot…

I hobbled two seats ahead to the exit where an attendant was immediately concerned for me – are you all right he cried seeing my demeanor of pain – no I answered as he was reaching for the first aid kit in the small overhead locker – I’ve lost my iPod…

He took the stub of my boarding card from the previous flight and wandered away after assuring me that the iPod would be found and my foot would heal…
He came back a little later and told me he had asked the ground crew to follow it up and everything would be OK and would I like a valium?

I took a deep breath and accepted I had lost iPod, my best friend at 30,000 feet, never questioning, always happy to serve me, travelled the world with my iPod – oh I miss you iPoddy –I’ll never forget you – I’ll remember your birthday and light an MP3…

Ok, I’ve got it together again…

I settled down in my seat and waited for my isle neighbor to arrive – I knew it would be someone the size of a sumo wrestler so when a small framed man arrived and sat down next to me, it made my day. My happiness levels elevated again when he started to moan about his seating arrangement and he had no leg room – the AVOD box was in his way. After everyone was seated and the plane was being pushed off, the attendant came over and said he could move into the center seat in front of the exit. He was stoked, I was happy knowing I was getting more room and off we went…

The seat belt signs were extinguished and my friend in the C seat moved. The arm rests came up and I made the most of the extra room and didn’t have to recline to achieve some space.

The attendant who had done the iPod work for me came up – he had the “list” in hand and welcomed me on board and asked if he could get me anything – he came back clutching business class headsets (which didn’t work in economy but the thought was there) and Heineken for myself as well as another WP flyer in the seats behind me.

Meals served, a steady flow of Heineken (in cans imported from New Zealand), the eight hours were quickly eaten up and before long the plane was on the ground in Singapore.

Changi – through immigration without a hitch, a quick stop in duty free for a bottle or two and onto retrieving my luggage and my companion and I were quickly outside being greeted by our driver for the 25 minute ride into Clarke Quay.

A scolding hot shower, a night cap from the mini bar and bed. I was rudely awakened by my wakeup call just a few hours later…

Monday 28th April
SIN / CKG / SIN VF 508 & VF 501 Depart 0740 & 1715

Seats 11F & 6 E (both flights there was only myself and my companion in the row so we had the middle seat as extra room)

Traffic in Singapore was light on the way out to Changi and I think I got another 15min’s sleep in on the way. We joined a small but slow line to check in for the VALUAIR flight to Jakarta and I checked on a couple of bottles of good Australian wine for my customer I was visiting. The check in man was amazing – he suggested that he repacked the bottles to ensure they didn’t get broken and off he went! 5 or 6 sections of The Straits (newspaper) went into repacking the wine and once he was happy with the result, he covered it with fragile stickers. This man enjoyed his job and was amazingly helpful.

After clearing immigration and being scrutinized by the agent – really scrutinized, we headed up to the Qantas /BA First lounge for breakfast. Cereal and fruit, orange juice followed by coffee – all the choices taken – oh for a First lounge similar to SYD or Mel where we could have dined on eggs Benedict with fresh salmon…

A slow meander down to the gate, through the security point and onto the aircraft (4 year old A320) to be greeted by the Jet-Star uniformed attendants. The décor is Jet-Star, gray leather seats single class. The difference between Jet-Star and VALUAIR, the VALUAIR aircrews (all of them) enjoy their jobs! They are friendly, helpful and attentive. Also, a snack and water is provided at no additional cost.

After flying through the haze for about 80 minutes, we touched down in Jakarta as smooth as silk (somewhat fast) and disembarked slightly before schedule. Anyone who has traveled into Indonesia knows securing an on arrival Visa requires patience, some luck and a crisp USD$10 note in your hand. We pulled into the line awaiting Visa’s (the last time in Indonesia this process took 35 or more minutes) and popped out the other side Visa issued in less than 5 minutes! WOW! Through immigration, picked up the wine (I had indicated on my arrival card that I had more than 1000ml of alcohol with me (2 x 750ml) as Indonesian customs can be painful (and it can hurt your pocket) but was waved through to be met by out driver on the other side.

Driving in Jakarta – I could write a book about that. Michael Schumacher crossed with Hannibal Lector would be a decent description of our driver… FAST and INSANE.



Jakarta – the old and the new, the affluent and the effluent and the clean with the dirty (sounds like an Anthony Bourdain line in fact – Anthony, want to use it on your next show?)



Jakarta – always full of surprises and I am surprised we drove insanely for an hour and a half and didn’t crash…



Meetings over, our trip back was equally INSANE and upon arrival at the airport, we tipped our driver USD$50 – I think that was purely through the love of life and our hope he would put it forward towards some driving lessons…

After securing some Rp – 100,000.00 to leave the country, we headed through immigration and planted ourselves at the bar and had quite a few beers – it must have been a few, we were paying for the Heineken in USD and getting change back in Rp – we never had enough for another beer in Rp, so we would get another round, pay in USD, change in Rp and tip the waitress… HAHAHA, our drinks cost us a fortune but the waitress must had made about 2 months wages in our tips alone… see, sometimes excess alcohol consumption has its benefits!

We boarded our flight back to Singapore and were pushed off way early and managed to be in the air with the seatbelt lights extinguished before we were actually due to depart. Again, excellent service – we had told the young attendant to get the Heineken out as soon as the plane had taken off which he did and we forced three Heinekens down each before landing! The dehydration caused by air travel causes excess drinking – that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Also with the loss of my best friend iPoddy, I had an excuse ok !

Into Changi again, and this time duty free before clearing immigration. The AMEX got a hammering at the Perfume Connection and off we went. After clearing immigration, out came the plastic and the alcohol purchases made again, off out the door and met by our driver.
After a quick pit stop at the Novotel we had dinner at Clarke Quay followed by way too many drinks… Bed again for a few hours sleep before the flight home…

Tuesday 29th April
SIN / SYD – QF 32 & QF 489

Premium check in at Changi, my upgrade has been confirmed but not my companions. This is an awkward situation, he’s my boss, he’s in cattle, he’s paid the FF points into my account for the upgrades – who gets the seat? I offered it to him, he didn’t want it – one chance, no more offers, that’s it, I’m J on the way home, he’s in cattle.

Through immigration – gawd darn it – the same bloke as the day before – I can see in his eyes there is recognition there, he remembers me but from where… who is this bloke he’s thinking… he lets me through, 2 times in 24 hours… it must have ruined his day not remembering I was the smart ass from the day before…

Up to Burger King for breakfast – something more substantial is required to absorb the remaining alcohol in our bodies than cereal and fruit! After breakfast, a bee line to the First Lounge where after explaining the upgrade thing, the good lady at the door set out on a mission to contact Australia and find out what’s going on with my companions upgrade.

Duty free again, the remaining perfume order filled, a quick look at iPod’s and noise cancelling headphones and back to the First Lounge. The news isn’t good for my companion – his ticket class was not upgradeable (huh?) and it wouldn’t be happening.

No point in arguing, into the lounge, coffee, juice, water, more coffee, toilet and off to board.

See ya I yelled as I turned left to head up to 12K

J had 4 or 5 empty seats on the top deck – this was disappointing as my companion should have been up there with me for the flight.

The wheels had barely left the ground (literally) before I had the seat fully reclined and snuggled up with 2 pillows and a blanket – sleep – ahhhhhh
I awoke for a meal, watched “the mist” – 6 out of 10 on my movie scale, slept again, awoke and watched a couple of episodes of “thank God you are here” then we were landing. Through immigration, into the transfer lounge, missed the bus because the sensitivity on the freaking metal detector picked up the lace eyes in my shoes and waited for my transfer to the domestic.

My flight was due to board at 2010 and I had arrived at domestic at 1950. I ran through the empty Sydney terminal and went down to baggage services which is also lost and found. I asked about iPoddy, whether his remains had been found, they said no and gave me a form to fill out. It was truly over, the last shred of hope that had lingered in reuniting iPoddy and I was gone. I said thanks to the man, hung my head and wandered off to security. Stupid ring tone I thought as someone refused to answer their phone – wait, I’m the only one here – its my phone… *Private Number* - I don’t usually answer these…

Hello.
Is that Mr!
Yep
It’s Mr. Lost and Found here, you better come back, we found iPoddy!
No way
Yes way
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

My faith in the human race was restored. Me and iPoddy are back together again! The Qantas ground crew combined with honest cleaning staff and everyone else involved had returned my iPod. Thanks.

I walked up to the QC in hope of forcing my first beer of the day into myself – I had a reason to celebrate. I looked at my seat allocation and decided to ask for something a little closer to the front. The lady at the counter said I looked very happy, I explained I had just returned from successful meetings in Indonesia and also about my iPod. I explained the excellent work the attendants and the ground crew had done to facilitate my iPod return and gave her my $1,000,000.00 smile.

She gave me seat 1K.

I didn’t get my first beer until we were flying and I did manage 2 crownies on the short flight back to Melbourne while listening to Pink Floyd on my iPod and typing a letter of thanks to Qantas for the excellent service I had received from Qantas over the last 3 days

Home again, luggage arrived, my driver was waiting for me and I walked into home three quarters of an hour later.

[Alanslegal]

A short but V entertaining read. Good work.

[serfty]

Good Stuff!

I'll never be able to look an iPod in the eye again!
... iPoddy indeed!

[QF009]

Cool stuff! I love your writing style.

I am glad they were able to reunite you and IPoddy.

[munitalP]

Originally Posted by serfty

Good Stuff!

I'll never be able to look an iPod in the eye again!
... iPoddy indeed!

You will be happy to know iPoddy and I are happily reunited - this time at Hobart where I sit in the QC looking at an empty tarmac

[JohnK]

Very enjoyable trip report.

Why did you buy S$ in Australia? The foreign currency exchanges in SIN airport are very competitive and even if you withdrew S$ with Visa from an ATM in SIN you would still have been well ahead of the Travelex rates.

[QF009]

Originally Posted by JohnK

The foreign currency exchanges in SIN airport are very competitive and even if you withdrew S$ with Visa from an ATM in SIN you would still have been well ahead of the Travelex rates.

Yes that is what I've also observed. I usually withdraw cash from the ATMs at the destination, sometimes because of the better rates but mostly because I'd forget to do it locally (which has sometimes gotten me into trouble when I can't find ATMs at the destination airport and taxis do not accept CCs). No such probs in SIN though.

[Elvin Yeo]

I like your writing style. I enjoyed reading it.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by JohnK

Very enjoyable trip report.

Why did you buy S$ in Australia? The foreign currency exchanges in SIN airport are very competitive and even if you withdrew S$ with Visa from an ATM in SIN you would still have been well ahead of the Travelex rates.

I get mine all from ATM's since i am here long term but even the currency exchanges in the street offer good rates for AUD when i have looked.
Just watch some ATM's have higher fees than other to the AU bank... now i am with ANZ so prbably does not help anybody else if i remember what bank it is.

E