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Got Out of Indonesia

As I write this I’m at the airport in Jakarta and just passed through customs, not without complications. Getting into Indonesia (through Bali) was no problem. Simply pay the $10 Visa On Arrival and get your passport stamped. Well, the inspector there never stamped mine properly, which raised all sorts of eyebrows.

As I was escorted inside a smoke-filled room full of customs officers, I remembered Michael’s words to always smile and play stupid. The smiling part was hard but looking stupid came naturally. In the end, everything was sorted out. I had enough documentation (ALWAYS keep your old boarding passes until the trip is over) to slide through. Let me point out that all of the officers were cordial and not the least bit threatening.

In a few minutes I board my flight to Bangkok, which will be the last one before I fly home. Here’s a brief summary of the past few days. I have some more pictures to upload but this is it for now.

SUNDAY

Rudy and I had a late flight from Bali to Jakarta, so Michael arranged a late checkout from the hotel. We had signed up for surf lessons the day before. After some instructions and practice in the pool it was time to hit the ocean. It was difficult but fun. I managed to stand up on my first attempt! Fun stuff.

After a few hours in the sun, I found shelter in my room and then it was time to leave.

In Jakarta, we were picked up by Rudy’s family. His wife, Ika, and three beautiful children. His nephew was the driver. After checking me into the Novotel Hotel, they took me to Planet Hollywood for dinner.

Jakarta is an interesting place. Gigantic and chaotic. The disparity between rich and poor is evident everywhere.

MONDAY

Business appointments in Jakarta. Now I understand Rudy’s need for a private driver. Traffic is an absolute mess and driving between appointments very time consuming. With a driver, you can work in the back seat.

For lunch, Rudy took me to a restaurant that serves food that is traditional to his native area of west Sumatra. It was the first time I ate a meal with my hands, which doesn’t bother me a bit as long as you wash your hands thoroughly. The food, as always, was very good.

TUESDAY

More appointments. Before the second one, Rudy took me to his wife, Ika’s, school. She runs an English education program for young children. We also drove through a typical development of Indonesian residences. You could live like a king here on a Western salary, and apparently a few Westerners do.

The drive to the airport (I was leaving for Surabaya) was slow and I barely made it, but everything has worked out OK so far and I’m not stressing too much over it. It was a little over an hour by air. I was exhausted by the time I got to the hotel and after a shower and quick dinner I hit the sack.

TODAY (WEDNESDAY)

This morning started badly as the hotel screwed up my super-urgent express laundry order, which they were supposed to have ready by seven o’clock. At least they returned my bag of dirty clothes. I was also scrambling to find my belt. After a frantic search, I spotted it behind the massive office desk, which I was barely able to move. As I snatched the belt and was about to celebrate, I bashed the top of my head against a sharp square lamp cover. It is hard to hide a head wound when you’re completely bald.

Early appointments with APP’s Surabaya rep, Yenni, then quickly off to the airport for a flight back to Jakarta, where I’m now awaiting the Air Asia flight to Bangkok.

There you have it. It’s been another hectic day in Indonesia and now I’m looking forward to staying in one hotel for three nights before heading home. Hopefully the Novotel hotel in Bangkok can get some laundry done for me in a hurry because I’m running out of clean clothes.