Hi guys,
today I want share my first long travel adventure. Destination: Jakarta/Indonesia. On 27oct.2018 I took my suitcase, my travel documents and my nervous and went to the nowadays closed airport Berlin-Tegel. Brave and patient I waited at Gate A11 for the check-in. Exactly in time KLM opened the check-in and directly upgraded me from Economy to Business on the flight to Amsterdam. Not a big deal but for me a big surprise and experience. In the aircraft the crew pampered me so lovely. Everything was new for me and they guided me and explained everything. Arrived at Amsterdam, I never saw such a big airport, I was worried to find my right gate for the long flight. But everything is to find easy there so I catch the gate much too early and I watched all the big aircrafts through the big windows.
Our aircraft was a Boeing777 with engines big like a Boeing737 cabin!! Its a so amazing and awesome aircraft! The take-off was so powerful but smooth and soon after the delicious meal I fell asleep.. the next I felt was the kind cabin crew lady who softly woke me up cause we were already on approach to Jakarta! I must have slept like a baby haha! And I was so afraid that I dont know what to do the 12 hours flight.
At 05.37pm local time I did my very first step on the south half of the earth and first time on Indonesian ground. Again all ways to the exit of airport were signed good and found easy. I was so overwhelmed by all impressions and views.. everything so wonderful! Luckily an Indonesian friend picked me up and we took a car with driver (like Uber) to my accomodation. It was dark already so I only saw all the skyscrapers and lights and all that. I had eyes big like dishes and my friend all the time laughing about me. Until that moment Berlin or Frankfurt were big cities for me! But Jakarta so much bigger!
In my accomodation I just shortly talked and gave thanks to my friend and fell tired into the big and soft bed.
The next morning was first very shocking for me but remembering back Im laughing. I woke up by loud sounds from outside and thought its air raid sirenes. But finally it were the Imams calling for the prayer: Indonesia is 90% Islam. I was so ashamed but my host giver only laughing and said that all his western guests reacted like that. What a nice guy hehe. But all people were so friendly, welcoming and charming to me.
The next 3 weeks my friend and her 4 lovely daughters went around with me, showed me everything and I had the best time in my life. One day we went with a rental car through the city and had to wait at red traffic light. I expected only some cars crossing the way, but believe me: hundreds of motor scooters only driving! That picture burned into my remembrance and I call it "the army of motor scooters"! I never saw that big amount before hehe.
Also the delicious street foods, the big supermarkets/malls, the national monument "Monas", the water park "Ancol" and last but not least the nice people and all that "Indo-Lifestyle" catched me so much!
And at the last day before return to germany I experienced my first tornado, followed by a light earthquake!! It was so crazy and fearing first but then also an interesting experience. I was panic but my friend and the kids only laughing about it.
Finally they were bringing me safe back to the airport. I was looking back, saw the skyline of Jakarta and started cry. I never felt so happy somewhere and wanted stay there. But I had to go back to Germany.. in the aircraft I was sleeping again and dreamed about all the 3 weeks again.. the flight crew told me later, they were smiling about my happy face while sleeping.
Back at home I needed over 4 weeks to arrive in Germany with my mind and since that travel I see many things with other eyes. I can advice everyone to go to Indonesia: you will come back down to earth again, relax and free your soul and just be happy there.
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
