Anyer, KLIA2 Arrival Hall and Malaysian Immigration

Hi Guys….This is a classic story when I start my passion as a backpacker.

Starting from this article, then I will pour my old adventures in dissecting neighboring country….Yesss, Malaysia.

Malaysia is the closest country which is often used as the easiest and most economical place to start a passion as a backpacker. In addition to offering cheap living costs and close to my country (Indonesia), Malaysia is also known for being friendly with its transportation system. So, Malaysia can train you to become a beginner level backpacker.

Malaysia itself became third country which I visited after Singapore and Thailand in the early phases of my journey to become a backpacker.

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Office outing in Anyer just held on first night. My anxiety worsened when employee award event didn’t ended yet. 23:00 hours was almost over, as a new employee, I ventured myself to ask for permission to early go home to Jakarta…..I didn’t packing yet, guys.

Permission was finally approved without an easy steps. Not thinking long, I hurriedly and deeply stepped my car’s pedals. I was speeding in Jakarta-Serang toll road in early morning which began to dew.

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Imperfectly parking “The Silver” in garage, I rushed and jumped into my room to pack all my supplies into a 25-liter backpack.

My time wasn’t enough anymore to catch DAMRI bus on “Kampung Rambutan bus terminal to SHIA” route, making me to pushed again “The Silver” pedals towards Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (SHIA). It made me had to spend USD 18.8 for paying parking fee at airport for 4 days-3 nights.

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Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur return ticket which costs USD 44.8 which I got through Air Asia promo program since 8 months before departured were finally saved from lateness threat which haunted me since first minute of returning from Anyer.

I couldn’t wait to fly to Melayu Land soon after “The Red Airline” was seen landing on Terminal 3, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport runway.

Not waiting long, me and other passengers were picked up by Air Asia airport coach to location of plane parking lot.

At that time, it was my second flight with Air Asia (in 2014). Whereas my first flight with Air Asia took Jakarta-Bangkok regular route in 2013.

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My landing on KLIA2 (Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2) runway was greeted with flight attendant voice in Malay language. First time I directly heard Malay language. Amazed.

My heart beated fast because it was my first time for solo traveling. “Ouch, how is it?….Crazy, I abroad alone….How? if do somethings happen to me?“. I muttered when I set foot in aerobridge.

Learning to be a beginner backpacker made me always carry around drink bottle to be refilled….very long time ago.

In fact, I felt that I wasn’t ready to go to immigration counter because of extreme fear. Scary stories very disturbed me i.e strictness of Malaysian immigration officers for first time new comer. And the bad news was….This was my first time entering Malaysia.

Being behind the yellow line of immigration queues made my heart beated fast….Because I would enter a slot at immigration counter soon. My appearance which didn’t support….My jacket which had faded in its color because I often weared it and used for go around Jakarta as a salesman, non-original mountain sandals which weren’t so bonafide and small backpack which wasn’t convincing.

Immigration staff: “Where are you going?“, I was little afraid.

Me: “Just sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur, Sir“.

Immigration Staff: “Where are your destinations?“

Me: “Batu Caves, Petronas Twin Tower, Bukit Bintang and Genting, Sir“.

Immigration Staff: “Can you show your return ticket?“

Me: Put down my backpack, opened it and looked for it, “This is my Air Asia return ticket on November 18, 2014 at 09:50 hours“.

Immigration Staff: “How about your hotel reservation?“

Me: “I haven’t booked a hotel, Sir” I began to strain.

Immigration Staff: “How come, there isn’t hotel reservation, where do you want to stay?“, His face was very fierce.

Me: “I got this reference hotel, Sir (while showing a hotel name card which I got from my boss who often travel to Kuala Lumpur)”. But actually I will not stay at that hotel.

Immigration Staff: “In next journey, you must have a hotel reservation, this time I was allow you to enter“. I was still looking nervous while he wrote my return date under free visa stamp on my passport. A sign that he suspected me.

But on my next visitation, every immigration officer who I passed never wrote my return date on passport. I have been able to freely enter in all around Malaysia until now.

Continue to follow my story about Malaysia in following articles.