JOG-CGK-DXB
So inspite of my inability to master anything even vaguely technical, I think I might have managed to embed a photo of the Hotel we stayed at in Jogjakarta... (Grand Mercure for those who know it). Wonderful service in this hotel by the way which almost makes up for the dreadful rugs in the rooms. The bar is fun too and the barmen are so insistent that it's impossible to refuse. Hic!
After two weeks of Indonesia it was time to make our way back home and so Friday afternoon found us on our way to the small but busy airport in Jogjakarta. A short Garuda hop later and we arrived at CGK airport in Jakarta. Big and busy! On the way out of the domestic baggage claim I had one of those experiences, travellers, that reconciles you to humanity. I stopped to ask a rather distinguished looking older Garuda agent where I should go for the International terminal and he took me by the hand and gave me very detailed directions finishing with the exhortation "Take no notice of the taxi drivers, just push the barrier aside and walk through" upon which he squeezed my hand and twinkled at me. I thanked him and we trotted off out into the mêlée, where sure enough we heard "Hey mister, you want taxi to Lufthansa?" or "You go international in my car?". But with that firm voice in my head (along with the others) I just brushed on by and slid beside the barrier, walking 50 yards between what looked like cardboard walls and came out ... yes travellers you guessed it .. in the International Terminal. Those unscrupulous taxi drivers would have taken my roupiah for a trip around the airport when all it took was a 2 minute stroll. Honestly! What rogues.
Check in at CGK - Emirates desks in the distance, the luggage of the gaggle of young ladies who surrounded me in the foreground
Check-in went smoothly despite the efforts of the emirates lady to find a major complication with our booking. Our request to collect our bags in Dubai because we had a long stopover produced a creased forehead (doesn't she know she's going to regret that later in life?) but after playing the entire works of Chopin on her keyboard she eventually smiled "ok". Through security to the lounge.
A word or two about lounges in Indonesian airports: there are an awful lot of them. It seems (to the casual observer) that every bank credit card, or all insurance policies will get you into one lounge or another at the airport. Emirates has its name on two lounges which are side by side and about a three day walk from the security screening. We chose one of them and were smiled in by the nice dragonnette on the desk. Down a corridor equipped with seating and .... oh wait, that WAS the lounge. No, there's another bit just round this corner. And with food. Underwhelming to say the least.
Judge for yourselves fellow travellers.
Perhaps I'm being a little harsh...
Anyway, all I wanted to do was eat snacks and drink stuff, but Mrs FPR, not normally known for her stamina, decided that a little shopping was in order. Obviously she disappeared some considerable length of time (not surprising given the jaunt back to the shops) and only reappeared as we were being called for boarding.
Off we rush, helter-skelter, only to discover that the boarding system at Jakarta airport isn't. A system that is. Everybody piles into a little satellite waiting room (all 400 of us or whatever) and then we are made to walk from that satellite to another satellite about 15 minutes away. Here we are put on buses and made to wait again for about 10 minutes. Finally after a sightseeing tour of the tarmac, airplane wheels and some steps are to be seen through the crush. Good heavens that welcome champagne is going to be so welcome.
Here it comes. Is it me or am I already slightly drunk whilst taking this photo? Must be the anticipation...
As you can see, old style business class, which was perfectly satisfactory on the outbound day time flight, but which really showed it's limitations on this nighttime flight. I really cannot sleep in the Z-position. And if the cabin symphony was anything to go by, it's hugely conducive to snoring as well.
Wonderful service and excellent food and wine as usual on Emirates. The Chief purser steward lady came and introduced herself to us addressing us by name as usual. That is SUCH a nice touch!
Watched "Twilight" after dinner...hmmm, shame I'm not a15 year-old girl, I might have enjoyed it more. Then tried to sleep before our hectic 24hrs in Dubai the next day. Breezed through Dubai customs with those incredibly handsome passport men. They always manage to crack a joke and generally charm the socks off one... well this one anyway. My wife gets terribly jealous...
Picked up suitcases in no time and off to the Emirates chauffeur counter to be whisked off to the Meridien. Sleep... ahh... bliss!