Stranded and Alone

Listening to "Clumsy" by Fergie while writing this blog.
"I like serious relationships and A girl like me dont stay single for long" - yeah right, I have been single for more than a year now, even though I very much treasure serious relationships.


When I booked myself the connecting flight of Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur-Langkawi, I was wondering whether the worst would happen to me - that my flight bound for KL will be delayed and I am gonna miss my connecting flight back to Langkawi. Oh come on, that won't happen right? (Have faith and confidence in Malaysia Airlines!) Thus happily I arranged everything for myself and made my way to KL first, then to Jakarta.


I checked out on 8th Aug, a gloomy Sunday. The Front Desk lady even told me that it's gonna be heavy rain later. I looked at my watched. 12 pm. Slightly anxious but unexplainable. "It's okay, your flight is 3:45 pm, everything's gonna be alright!" I reassured myself. Hopped to the taxi, I was glad that the driver drove as if he was Jensen Button and I reached the airport 5 minutes after 1 pm :)

Oh.My.God was the first thing I uttered when I reached the airport. So overwhelming. Too busy but not organized. My level of anxiety increased. I hushed myself to the check in counter the fastest I can, without wanting to ... to... see the worst thing happens.

Another shock! Passengers have already started to queue in front of the counters but ALL SIX counters were closed. Okay, again, I reassured myself, it's only 1.15 pm, check in time is 2 hours in advance. This is Jakarta, so bear with it.

I plugged in my earphone, blast the music at max volume and started to camwhore (with DSLR @@). I know this was absurd, but I was in a state of great uncertainty. I needed to do something to ease myself.


Finally, the counters were opened at 1:30 pm. Below was the conversation between the staff and me.


"Window seat or island seat?"
"Window seat, please, thank you."
"Sure. Are you flying anywhere after KL?"
"Erm, no..." I felt strange but I told him no, even though I was flying back to Langkawi after that. However, I didn't bother to tell him because, my connecting flight, was, via Air Asia. No point.

I thanked God when I have got my boarding pass and again, hushed myself to the departure hall. 

Why did I have to pay tax? Why? Why? Why?

While making my way to the departure hall, of course, I did stop and browsed some of the nice duty free shops :)

Okay, the lounge of departure hall. Nothing can be bad now. I found myself a nice spot, and read my book.

2.45 pm. Something was wrong. The plane was not here whilst boarding time was 3.15 pm. My level of anxiety increased tremendously again. I started to take photos again. My book, my passport in my passport holder and my boarding pass.

Let me tell you what was the ending. My flight, MH 720 bound for KL from Jakarta, was DELAYED. I found out when I realized the plane was not there even though it was already 3 pm. No announcement has been made. The officer apologetically told me that the next flight was 6.20 pm! I almost fainted when I heard that because that indicated that, I can never make my way back to Langkawi because the last flight was 9.15 pm, which was what I booked. This whole drama explained why did I feel anxious since the moment I checked out.


I was stranded at Soekarno-Hatta airport for almost 6 hours. I took off at 7 pm. Touched down at KL, went through the immigration and claimed my luggage and it was almost 11 pm. I went to MAS customer service office in KLIA, hoping they will be able to assist me in some way. To my greatest disappointment, they didn't seem to be bothered, just because I was taking Air Asia for my connecting flight. Well done, Malaysia Airlines. (Oh yes, I am being sarcastic!)


I went to LCCT, hoping to get last minute ticket from Air Asia after being so disappointed with MAS. Wasn't able to make online booking anymore as the departure time was less than 24 hours. The ticket counter was, CLOSED when I reached LCCT at about 12 am and will only open again 5 am later. It's okay, I told myself to be strong.Went to the ladies, freshened myself and made my way to Starbucks. It's only 5 hours, no point traveling back-and-forth to home, which takes at least 1.5 hour one-way. I was exhausted. I didn't want to walk anymore, I just wanted to sit, and talk to my notebook.


Being surrounded by travelers from all around the world in Starbucks that night, I do think that I am adventurous now. Despite how many people commented the same when they got to know I travel alone very frequently, I always deny that but after overcoming this connecting flight shit all by myself, I have started to agree with them.. That night, I text Mag, who happened to be in Jakarta too. I said "Now I see the importance of a boyfriend. I need one now". Indeed. That particular night, that horrible 12 hours, I really wanted someone to comfort me, someone to pull my head to his chest, gently strokes my hair and says "It's okay, don't worry, you are back now. As long as you are back in one piece...", and let me weep like a baby.


For once, I did feel like crying. That intention flashed when I reached LCCT. After 3 seconds, my little heart told me:"For what? There ain't anybody here to listen to you crying. Stop acting like a little girl, pull yourself and solve this shit!" Oh, that gave me courage anyway. I didn't cry because I know, there is no one that I will feel like putting off my shield and cry (yet) :)


It was a disastrous nightmare when one spent 12 hours in two airports. I took off at 7.30 am on Monday, 9th August, first flight to Langkawi. I slept the moment I sat in the plane, till the moment I landed. I was exhausted. Guess what, I had an appointment  scheduled at 12 pm that day. I made my way back to my apartment, took a great shower, and went to work after this long nightmare...


3 lessons learnt:
1. Do not take connecting flight
2. If I am ever forced to take connecting flight again, I will make sure I book the same airlines
3. Find someone who has a private jet :)


Lotsa love to all the individual travelers in the world Xx

Scandalous Stay

My trip to Jakarta has been perceived like a "she-is-there-for-someone" trip. Everyone, well okay, maybe I have been exaggerating, but a great deal of people thought that I went there for my so-called scandal. Entschuldigen Sie!  I have not, and even am not attached to anyone okay...

The story sounds like this: When I came back, uncountable people asked "Did you stay with him?" (Sorry, name will not be revealed due to privacy and I am sure he wants his name to be protected for his future target(s) / happiness, we are merely good friends :p) No, I stayed at the hotel. "So you got a free room / special rate?" No, I paid myself. What's wrong people? Why can't I be perceived as being someone independent for all these? Give me a break...
 
As mentioned, I stayed at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski for this short trip due to the superb location within the city. The hotel was known for it's legacy being a President-owned hotel. Checked some reviews online, found that the room rate was pretty reasonable and there I booked one room for myself (again, only for myself).

Got the hotel to arrange me airport transfer. Pheww, thank God that everything was smooth and I didn't get stucked at the airport, just like what happened in Bali. It took about an hour to reach the city center from Soekarno-Hatta airport, just like KLIA.
 
Woke up early in the morning to take the first flight has caused me to doze off in the very comfy Mercz. Phone rang. Darn. International call. Who would it be? Sigh. "Hello, Joe speaking.... Hi, I am doing good, but it's not really convenient for me to talk, I am now in Jakarta, can I call you back when I am back to my office on Monday? ... Thankssss, bye!"
 
That time I saw Le Meridien, and guess what? Da Vinci Tower! The building is spectacular and I knew I was already in city center (my knowledge on Jakarta is only limited to Jalan Sudirman, Plaza Senayan and Grand Indonesia). So I used my broken Bahasa slang to ask the driver "Ini Jalan Sudirman ya, Pak?" "Iya, ini Jalan Jendela Sudirman." SILENT again. Okay, I spent my time watching the traffic until I reached the hotel.

The lobby of Kempinski. It was awesomely stunning. I love the chair (the gray one behind this centerpiece). It was so chic and so comfy. Too bad, due to security concern, I was not allowed to take photos.
 

The very helpful concierge associate led me to my room. He was just so friendly, explained everything in my room, and suggested some local food and places of interest.

 

My room. Look at the generous-sized, fluffy bed babe! The interior is absolutely beautiful. After taking some photos and organized my luggage, I can't resist the temptation of this bed and went to sleep. Second darn. Phone rang again. Again! International call! Sigh. "Hi, Joe speaking... hi, oh I see. I am currently away, yes, you can get him to call me next week when he is there. Thanks, bye" One call from Australia and one call from Thailand, no more please.

 Look at the working desk. Where? There! The transparent working desk. Isn't this ultra cool?

Watched some TV before falling asleep. Gosh, I have not been watching TV for so long. It's always precious to be able to catch the latest show, even watching Cartoon Network makes me happy these day :)

Saturday, 7th August. Just felt "human" again after suffering from a wine + beer + gin tonic hang over. Too lazy to step out for dinner. What I wanted to do that time was to wrap myself in the bathrobe and yes, watch TV and thus I got myself In-Room Dining. By the way, Kempinski's bathrobe is so thick and comfy, I even slept in it. I would have bought it if I have extra space in my luggage...

This was what made me did not feel like getting out of the room. The bathtub is huge. I filled it with slightly hot water, made a bubble bath, and soaked myself in it for a good 30 minutes.

Yun said I looked as if I have just woke up. Erm, no, I think I took this photo before I went to bed at 11 am and guess what, I woke up at 3 pm later. Oh, I have never done this before. I never slept the moment I checked-in to my room. Some good sleep and TV programs in a fab room can be nice treats for me, as simple as that now :)

Bear with Beer

Oh, I am back to my long-abandoned blog. Still alive. Still some stories on Bali but I am gonna' say something else now. Have just spoiled myself with a short but great shopping trip to Jakarta. Stayed at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski (from 6th to 8th August) due the the superb location - the hotel is connected and situated right next to Grand Indonesia, the gigantic shopping town,  heaven for a shopaholic like me...

The hotel is simply stunning, elegant but not too overwhelming, quite of my preference. Anyway, before I go further into the hotel and room, I want to start off with my beer story.

I don't know since when I don't really like beer, ever since I got addicted to hard liquor? Excuse me, don't give me that look, I am not AA nor Alcoholic nor I practice Alcoholism. I just prefer my gin and vodka. Kempinski has got a really cool microbrewery - Paulaner Brauhaus which serves fresh-brewed Bavarian beer. The first night, which was Friday, I went there with my friend to this happening place with live band, lotsa pretty girls, well-dressed top to toe and of course, beers are ubiquitous.

Tanks and tanks of beer are served every night I guess...

Did some catch up with him and was introduced to the really jovial and friendly brew master from Germany. Had two glasses of beer, one dark and one light, 500 ml each. Prior to that I had a glass of white wine for my dinner. Later, we hopped to a club nearby for more drinks. Great, no more beer, I had two gin tonic(s) there.

 Got the brew master, Andreas (as shown in pic, haha, just kidding) to sign on the coaster for me to bring back as a small memento :)

 This is the dark beer...

The consequence? We walked out from the club, and I was just, sigh... drunk and I had a hang over till 3 pm the next day. Don't ask me why. I don't know but I think I am going to blame the beer :p

The next day, we went to Paulaner again and I had the smallest beer (again). This time, the 300 ml-beer lasted me for more than 2 hours. I gave up. My beer was warm then. I had my gin tonic instead.

He commented:" You can never be a good Austrian or German or Swiss!" (Because of my low acceptance towards beer?) "It's okay laaa, I am a Malaysian (Chinese)!"

Oh, being surrounded by a bunch of Germans and German-speaking people that two nights made me feel regretted on why didn't I be more determined to learn German last time? It's not too late now I hope...