[24th June 2024]
Mum and I are at the airport getting our luggage to the air cargo.
We’ve been waiting so terribly long and even switched lines to do so.
I keep saying it’s a matter of time to get to the waiting lounge, but Mum says ‘This is a lesson for you as well. You’ve got to learn how to be patient.’
Ugh Uggghhhh.
I hate it every time my parents give me a boring lecture (I sometimes forget them anyways).
Have I mentioned where we’re going?
So, a week ago, after I’ve finished my Middle-School exams (I passed, thankfully), Mum decided to take me on a trip to Yogyakarta (or we more like to call it Jogja).
She said to me:
‘If you focus on your exams, then I will take you with me to Jogja.’
Don’t fuss, Mum’s only going there for work.
But as I haven’t gone to Jogja yet, and I’ve been nagging them to take me on a plane for years (it’s been more than four years since been on one), I’m pretty sure Mum would’ve understood, and…
Here I am now. Waiting stupidly for our luggage to get on the cargo.
‘Four more people left,’ … ‘three more to go Aggie (-Mum gestures me by my nickname-),’ … ‘Two more.’
Finally the last person in front of us goes and leaves us to get on.
‘Tickets and ID card please.’
After five minutes, we get checked and go to the waiting lounge. We take a few toilet breaks before sitting down peacefully, watching Pokémon – Detective Pikachu, just as they defeat Mew-two. It was just by the adverts, our plane gets called in.
My heart gives a jolt. This is it! I wonder. I’m finally going on a plane again!
Along with a few other passengers, we walk to our plane, skipping whilst kissing Toba goodbye.
Mom videos me as I skip happily along to the stairs of the plane. The stewardess greets us and checks us into our seats.
I sit next to the window, and put down my desk.
I also got out my Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book to read.
It was only when we were all told to fasten our seatbelts, put straight our seats, and put up our desks for safety.
I wanted to laugh when seeing the steward/stewardess telling us about the life-jackets and seatbelts.
But when it was time to fly, I got pretty scared (I’m claustrophobic and I feel funny when I go up heights), although I soon find out that it isn’t that bad after all.
For the next two hours, I read Harry Potter, whilst Mum naps, and we finally arrive at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Jakarta.
I can’t believe it! We’ve finally landed!
I still can’t believe that we’re off a plane after so long. It felt like 20 minutes while in reality it was 2 hours.
Soekarno-Hatta Airport is one of the biggest airports I’ve been in (partly because it’s the biggest in Indonesia), and there is also a train, called the SkyTrain, which takes you to different terminals.
Mind you, I’ve never been in one…SO ME AND MUM ARE GONNA GO THERE!!!!
We’re gonna go from T1 (Terminal One) to T2 (Terminal Two).
Mum and I take a few photos in front of the airport, and on the escalator, which is incredibly tall.
As we reach the second floor, we were to wait for train at the second door.
We needn’t wait for too long, for the train arrived only five minutes into the station.
We get in, and I finally know why it’s called a SkyTrain.
We can see the whole airport from here, and, mind you, it’s incredibly big.
Mum and I came off excitedly, and that’s when something felt very familiar.
I feel as if I’m getting déjà vu!
‘We’ve been here before Mum!’ I say, but Mum denies it.
‘This the time when we came back from England, and we stayed in the hotel that is…I think…is below us.’
Mum just laughs. ‘I don’t think so, Aggie. I’m sure we’re going through a different terminal…’
But I don’t think that I’m wrong.
I feel as if it’s the right place…
‘Mum look!’
I point at the staircase that’s right next to us three minutes.
But it’s the exact same staircase from our hotel when we arrived in Indonesia!!!!!
I KNEW I WAS RIGHT!
AND YOU UNDERESTIMATED ME MOOOOM!!!
Me and Mum are so surprised.
I always wanted to know how déjà vu feels like, and I just felt it!
We go to this noodle shop called Bakso Afung and we eat Noodle Meatballs, and drink some orange juice.
Mum does some work whilst eating, while I play some Doodle games.
On three o’clock, we pay and go out to our gate.
We get checked first though. We have to take off everything (except our clothes) and then go through a few shops to get to our gate.
So, on the way, we bought some books for me to read!
We bought Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and some Tricky Quizzes.
We finally go through the bridge which connects the gate and the main airport.
Our gate is D7.
We pass D3, D5, and – ah – D7.
We get there around four o’clock, and our plane to Jogja is on five o’clock.
The lounge is completely packed. People are going to Manado, Flores, Makassar, and even back to Medan!
I’m pretty sure that our plane’ll be first…
A few minutes later, the flight-attendants going to Flores go through the gate. But I’m so busy reading Little Women that I didn’t think much of it.
Five o’clock:
Our train is delayed for an hour, so I don’t think we’ll get moving until sunset (the sun sets more quickly here).
Makassar’s plane had just went off, and now we’re sitting next to a few people going to Manado.
Mum seems quite observed in the conversation, but I don’t pay attention at all.
I’m bored.
I ask Mum to get some cookies because I’m starving, so Mum lets me get Selai Olai.
Six o’clock:
The lounge is pretty empty now. The people going to Manado are gone, and now it’s just our flight that’s left on the list. Mum had already checked more than two times to see if our plane had gone or not.
But finally, we hear a women’s voice:
Attention passengers to Yogyakarta. There has been a problem with the plane, and we are planning on switching planes. We are sorry for any inconvenience, but on 6.30pm we will hand out snacks in return of patience.
The room fills with groans and exclaims.
I can’t believe my ears.
We’re gonna stay here till night time???
Mum’s pretty exasperated, but she says it’s for the best.
She suggests going out to get pizza and tea and watch scroll Netflix whilst waiting for our flight.
I get Beef and Cheese whilst Mum gets Chicken and Cheese.
We take them back to the lounge and I get out Mum’s iPad to watch PETER RABBIT 2.
It’s the sequel of the first movie where Bea and McGregor get married and Bea starts making books of the rabbit and Peter find his new “Dad-like” friend.
Halfway through, after we finish our pizzas, Mum went to receptionist to get snacks.
And when Mum gets back – oh, you won’t believe what they had given us.
They give us chocolate chip cookie, or Good Time, and some energy biscuits, or Biskuat (Kuat = strong)
So…they’re telling us to have a good time whilst waiting and to be strong whilst waiting too?!
We all laugh at this clever idea. No – really. They finally put a smile on our face after making us wait for so long.
We did not have a decent time, but we were definitely strong.
And FINALLY, on 7 o’clock, our plane is ready.
Cheering in our hearts, we race through the doors, get on the shuttle bus as quick as possible, and we reach our plane after waiting for Two. Tiring. Hours.
I feel pleased as we get in.
Our seats have mini TVs so I could play games whilst on the way.
Our plane from Silangit wasn’t like this!
***
I’m playing Mangala on the mini TV whilst Mum sees how good I am.
We’re feet away from the ground now, and we’re nearly there.
It takes only 30 minutes to get there from Jakarta (that’s why Mum complained a bit before that we should’ve went on train).
We land with a bump and we get out quickly.
In the cold night, all of rush into the airport and, my God did we see a ton of stuff as we get in.
First, we run into the Concept of Sindutan Relief by Fajar Andrian (a tribute to the village of Sindutan, where this airport, Yogyakarta International Airport – YIA – was built).
We take a lot of pics there.
Next, we see Palihan (which means guidance) by Duvrat Angelo.
We eventually bump into the Concept of Among Tani Dagang Layar Pop-Up Works (a landscape Pop-Up works of the villagers going to the traditional market on market day).
And finally, we take pictures at the WELCOME TO YOGYAKARTA sign.
I post it on my story, whilst we search for the station.
You see, since YIA is in a village, it’s far from the city, so it takes pretty long to get there.
But when we’re about to get on the lift, we’re interrupted by this old, taxi driver.
He stops us, saying that there’s no more tickets left, which made my Mum panic.
I didn’t really though. Where’s proof, man?
He tells us to check upstairs at the station, which we do.
As I hear the kind cashier say ‘Sorry miss, but we have no more tickets left.’
My heart sinks and skips a beat.
No. More. Tickets.
How are we gonna get to our hotel nowwww????
But whilst I’m busy in daze, Mum and the old man have a talk, and five minutes later, she tells me that we’re going to town with him.
My face turns into a mixture of relief and confusion.
‘Is it safe?’ I whisper.
Mum hesitates, but she had no time to answer.
The driver’s car pulls over, and he helps put in our luggage.
As soon as we get in, Mum and him chat, but I couldn’t think anymore, so I just sleep.
Mum wakes me up, and I see our hotel. Grand Keisha Hotel.
I sigh in relief, whilst tired.
I stagger out of the car and get my bags. We say thank you to the driver. He compliments my hair, and that’s what makes me completely awake.
We check in, get our key, and go up to the eighth floor to our room.
Mum’s roommate was already there, and she doesn’t turn out to be asleep yet (I mean it’s literally already 11 o’clock).
I was half expecting her to be pissed off that I’m staying with them, but she seems pretty cool about it.
I change my clothes and call Dad and my sister. They’ve been waiting for us, so they haven’t slept yet. Sweet of them.
We bade them good night, and we go to sleep too.
‘Good Night Aggie.’ Mum kisses me. And I hug her back.
Today was tiring, happy but AMAZING in conclusion.
What does Day Two bring us???
