Just realized I haven't really been updating here as of late. Been busy doing practically nothing. As I'm still currently in holiday mood mode. Should really shake it out already by now. Oh well, hopefully will start something tomorrow. I would like to emphasize on my "hopefully" part.
Ok, just to get things started. Our flight actually started out from Kuching to Singapore, so here we are on the way to the airport while calling a taxi to ferry all 3 of us there. We arrived about 7.30am, and after we checked in we decided to head over to McDonald for breakfast. After we finished eating, we head into the departure hall only to find out the plane was about to take off. And that was like 8am, whereby our flight was scheduled to fly off at 8.40am. So we pretty much rushed to the gate to pretty much find out that we were the last to board. The flight was ok, considering it was slightly a bit packed but both Deluxe and myself managed to get a free seat vacant so it helps with a little bit of extra space. Especially when Esther tends to sleep all the way through the flight, which was good. The flight took about 1 hour and 20 mins.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="377" caption="Posing at Terminal 3 Mini Garden"]
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Upon arriving Singapore, apparently I pretty much underestimate the timing on when AirAsia will actually arrive. If only I knew that we would arrived early, I would have purchased the following flight at 11.55am but I guess it's too late for that now. So here we are going round and round Changi Airport, where I was pretty much impressed with everything there. So Deluxe, Esther and myself went around from Terminal 1, to Terminal 2, to Terminal 3 and back to 1 again. As we were still lugging along our luggage because we couldn't checked in first.
After the 1 round of sightseeing outside the terminal, the counter departing for Jakarta finally opened and so we managed to get ourselves checked in and our next destination was to hunt for food as all of us was pretty much tired and hungry from all the walking. We ended up in one of the Taiwanese restaurant, was pretty much exhausted from the walking and I wasn't feeling too good either. So no pictures of the place, sorry. We spent about SGD19, which we thought was ok (Please don't ask me to convert. FYI we changed our notes and it was at SGD1=RM2.37).
Not long after that, we decided to went into the departure hall and waited for our flight. There seems to be a slight delay about 30 minutes, as our plane had not arrived yet. So I went and called my father in law just to let him know, and we talked briefly for less than a minute. Xpax charged me RM30 just for that 1 minute call. So you have been warned. Anyway, when the plane finally arrived this time we given priority to board as they were following the seat numbers. So we were fortunate enough to get those seat and off we go to Jakarta which will take another 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Unlike the previous plane where it was managed by the Malaysian crew, the Indonesian crew was so much much better. I'm not being bias or anything but their action does speak louder than words. Well, first thing they noticed that Esther was with us so one of the stewardess went and got those mini life jacket for her and pretty much explained all the necessary details before the flight take off. Plus we were given complementary water and nuts, before the actual in flight purchased. So the next time you decided to take a flight to Indonesia make sure you take notice of the QZ flights instead of the AK ones. Ok, going back to the story..
So we finally touched down in Sukarno Hatta International Airport. Clearance was faster because the foreigner lane was clear, where as the locals were queuing up quite long. So after collecting our luggage we waited a while before Deluxes' brother came by and picked us up. There's one thing I definitely won't miss about Jakarta is pretty much the traffic jam. But it wasn't that bad when we arrive, but it got worst when we arrived at Kelapa Gading. It wasn't like that the previous year we went back. Anyway, after we dropped our stuff at home we went to the mall and had dinner there. By then I was pretty much air & car sick, so by the time we reached back home. I quickly went and took a shower and pop one panadol and head to sleep.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="378" caption="Venice & Esther"]
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After a good night rest, I felt much better while Deluxe was already up and began preparing a bowl of kolo mee. It didn't make me missed Kuching so much. So after breakfast, Esther and Venice were at it again getting reacquainted after the long drive from yesterday. Because Venice on speaks Bahasa Indonesia, while Esther had a little knowledge on it whereby her major language was in Hakka. So there were indeed a lot of awkward moments and a lot of hand gestures. But it was cute how they communicate with one another.
On the 2nd day we didn't do much apart from heading to the shopping malls and started to lepak around there. I took most of my pictures with my phone compared to the DSLR, as I was honestly a bit lazy lugging around shopping malls after being warned once last year. After we had lunch, I noticed there was a couple just sitting at the entrance. Both of them were on their blackberry. And to make matters even more interesting, they were pretty much chatting away with each other using the blackberry. Seriously, I think they need to get a life.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="317" caption="Massive traffic jam. This is not considered that bad."]
[/caption]Day 3 was when we headed to one of Deluxes' aunt place. It was a long weekend as Indonesian Independence day fell on 17th August, so people used this opportunity to head over to places such as Bandung as well as Puncak. So we didn't head there due to the massive traffic jam predicted by my brother in law. Anyway, traffic was heavy but I was told this was ok as it could be even worst. At least we're moving every 2-3 mins, whereby for some reason it would be faster if you crawl compared being stuck in this jam. So most of the time it is best to sleep else don't think too much about it.
After that, we headed to my in laws shop which was situated at South Jakarta, and the picture taken was from Northen side of Jakarta. Traffic slightly improved after a while, because it was the weekend as some of the offices were not opened. By the time we reached the shop was already close to dinner time. So we went and had dinner at Ny.Nita Ayam Presto. I'll talk about the food in a different post, but just to let you know. The chicken was fabulous, and you even can eat up the bones as well. I don't know how they do it, but you eventually eating up the whole chicken including the bones. After eventually we went back home and that was pretty much about it.
4th day, we woke up kinda early as we were heading to church. The church we went to was Gereja Reformed Injili Indonesia. Because it wasn't combined the service started at 7 am. I went and followed my brother in law, while Deluxe and Esther followed her Sister in law to Sunday School. Probably it may be slightly different for her, as everyone was talking in Bahasa Indonesia. But from what I understand is that she didn't had any problems blending in. After that we had breakfast and headed to Deluxe Uncle house which was not far away. We spend some time there for quite some time before heading to another Aunt of Deluxe. Esther was overjoyed when she received new goodies, as one of them even looks exactly like her cousin Venice shoes. So she was pretty hyped about it. After that, we headed back home and rested before going out for dinner at again a nearby mall. There are quite a number of shopping malls in Kelapa Gading, as the largest mall is also there. So you pretty much need 1 day just to visit one area.
Day 5 was we headed over to Mangga Dua ITC, which is one of the favorite places Deluxe loves to go. The reason is that most of the cheap stuff are normally located here. But if one was not careful, one can easily get lost in this huge maze. Seriously, you wouldn't want to get lost there. Plus with so many things around, and people going around you have to be extra careful with your belongings as well. After purchasing Deluxe pants, and some clothing for Esther we headed to Golden Truly, whereby it's kinda like the feel of Ngiukee. Sales all year long, haha. But their gado-gado there is excellent.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="335" caption="Gondola Ride"]
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Day 5 was when we headed over to Ancol, which is one of the tourist attraction in Jakarta. Because it was 17th August, the entrance fee was like 50%. We headed to craft area first to have a look see Indonesian arts and crafts. And they are seriously really good. We went and visited the art gallery as well as the local craft. After that we went and sit on the Gondola.
We didn't go to Dunia Fantasy (disneyland), even though we had the promotion brochure. Whereby it was slashed down to like 40-50%. Which was very cheap, compared to the other sections of Ancol. Never the less, Esther had fun running around the huge space. But was a bit frighten from the gondola ride. But it was all good. After that, we headed once again to Golden Truly for dinner. Yup, you've guessed it, Gado-Gado once again for dinner. Hehehehe.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="236" caption="Venice, Esther & Nathan"]
[/caption]Day 6, nothing much to talk about as we were stuck in traffic the whole day. We were basically stuck in traffic the whole day. Anyway, day 7 we were heading back Kuching but will transit in Singapore for 2 nights before heading back. Upon arrival in Singapore, we took a cab and headed to our staying place which was at People's Park Centre. Quite a nice place to stay actually considering that there were a lot of food to eat plus MRT is extremely nearby. So we headed off to another aunt of Deluxe place and pretty much stayed there till evening before calling it in.
The following day, we went and visited Deluxe's cousin. Here Esther & Venice got to know another cousin of theirs whom they met for the first time. From the photo on the left, I guess it was those priceless moments when it was the first time we met our cousin when were their age. So one was speaking Bahasa Indonesia, one Hakka, and the other one spoke in English. But again, as children even though they can't speak the same language. They can sure have a good time together. This was a picture before Venice actually leaped out from the swing, dragging Esther along. And unfortunately Esther didn't know what was actually happening fell on the ground. She was fine, but as you know the rest of the adults were worried and screaming already by then. Hahaha. But it's all good.
Anyway, after that we headed back to the hotel and pretty much rested there for the next few hours. I was able to catch up with Bong for about 20-30 mins as he went and sort of catch snake just to meet up with me. But from what I understand his office was not far from where we stayed. So it was all good. It was good catching up with him, and he's been putting on weight as well. Ah well, he was pretty much my partner in crime most of the time. Hahaha.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="364" caption="Deluxe, Esther, Grace & Juliany"]
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Towards the evening, Deluxe friend Juliany and her husband Hendry dropped by and visited us. Esther was introduced to Grace and surprisingly both of them were very quiet. Haha, I guess they were trying to make a very good first impression. But it was good to see that they eventually slowly broke the ice. Grace is about 8 months older than Esther. After that was done we pretty much packed up our stuff and get ready for the following day to go home.
We pretty much got all of our stuff, and managed to get a cab. But unfortunately for us, quite a number of roads have been closed. But I was a bit skeptical of the taxi driver as he was making rounds two times even though we went through there again. But I guess they were just trying to make an extra buck I suppose. Ah well, never the less. Once we arrived at the airport, Juliany was there again to send us off. So that was basically our trip in Singapore. As we didn't really had much time to explore actually. Never the less, I guess it's a good experience for Esther. And we believe that we won't be seeing Singapore for the last time. We shall be back ;)
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