Air Asia

Air Asia AK 382 from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta

11 July 202211 July 2022travelingpersecond

Flight Information Display System (FIDS) in front of sleep place.

Entering Friday, around half past five, when the dawn of Malaysia arrived, I sat down to awake from sleep in one of seat row in Transportation Hub located at Gateway@klia2 mall level 1. I was still rubbing my eyes when several other travelers were still snoring around .

I forced my feet to step into the 1st floor mosque which was located outside the terminal building in order to fulfill my obligations to “The Creator” who had given time and funds for an adventure through East Asia….Thank you, God.

My scheduled flight time at seven in the morning made me not dare to budget for breakfast time. I only bought two packaged chocolate buns at a convenience store located next to NZ Curry House as lunch in the plane.

At five o’clock, I went to the check-in desk in 3rd floor of Main Terminal Building to get a boarding pass to Soekarno Hatta International Airport. Shortly after, I headed to the immigration counter to get permission to leave Malaysia. As predicted, everything happened easily and quickly.

Half an hour before boarding, I arrived at the gate and found an Air Asia AK 382 nicely parked in front of it. Shortly after my arrival, the gate was actually opened. I started entering the waiting room after reporting my boarding pass and passport to the ground staff who checked every passenger.

A few minutes later….The pilot, co-pilot and several flight attendants entered the plane to preparing. The bustle of loading in the fuselage, filling avtur and loading inflight meal became a sight that caught my attention at every stage until everything ended well.

The boarding announcement filled the airport ceiling, I immediately queued, then entered the cabin through the aerobridge full of joy because soon my adventure would be over. I found a seat right at the tail of plane. Understandably, this was a cheap ticket which was purchased nine months before the flight.

Since the boarding process, demonstration of flight safety procedures, taxiing, take-off, airborne to cruising, I hadn’t even touched the Travel 360 magazine which was Air Asia’s inflight magazine. Of course I was bored, I had read it many times since the QZ 200 (Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur), AK 170 (Kuala Lumpur-Kaohsiung) and D7 505 (Seoul-Kuala Lumpur) flights. For more than twelve hours during those three flights, I had finished reading the inflight magazine.

After enjoying the packaged chocolate bread, I quickly felt asleep. A sleepless night on last night made my eyes no longer helpless to stay awake while in the air. I was sleeping….and hopefully not snoring……????

I was really asleep until the announcement of plane that would soon land at Soekarno Hatta International Airport woke my eyes. Leaving behind a bit of a headache and taking a little time to clear the eyes, I could see the streaks moving fast out there and watching from the window. The plane was landing…

Spoilers on the wings of plane seemed to stand to help contain the wind speed to stop the fuselage speeding down the runway. Shortly after, the plane started taxiing and stopped in the apron.

Ohh… It was over.

With a faint smile, I left the fuselage via aerobridge and entered the airport building. I immediately went to the immigration counter to certify my passport with an arrival stamp.

After that I immediately went to DAMRI Bus counter to go to the Kampung Rambutan Terminal and went home….

To get flight tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, you can search for them 12go Asia with the following link: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

THE END

Nine Hours Stopover in Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2

7 July 202211 July 2022travelingpersecond

<—-Previous Story

For most travelers, Kuala Lumpur International Airport becomes the most fantastic point to jump into other Asian countries. Of course, the existence of Air Asia’s Low Cost Carrier (LCC) makes it so. Since 2001, Air Asia has been providing travelers with low-cost access to travel around Asia. Thanks to Air Asia, I have stopped at KLIA for 21 times when exploring Asia.

But in this story. it was eighth stopover….Yup, this was the eighth time I set foot in Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

After ten o’clock at night, the giant wheel of Air Asia D7 505 gently touched against KLIA2’s runway. The 5 hour 50 minute journey from Seoul was over. My first impression of tasting the wide body Airbus A330 was really pleasant. Flying across Yellow Sea and East China Sea took place with virtually non-existent turbulence, calm and smooth without a hitch. That was probably one of the advantages of riding a large plane when exploring sky.

After taxiing for a few minutes, Air Asia D7 505 was stopped in apron and as soon as the plane door opened, I entered KLIA2 building via aerobridge. I returned to KLIA2 after ten days before stopping by at it before jump to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It was such a happy feeling that night because I was already close to home, only 2 hours 15 minutes away by air.

And for me, stopping at KLIA2 would be more convenient if I left immigration counter, because I could find many culinary offerings at Gateway@klia2 mall instead of just sitting in transfer hall.

“Transit, Sir. I want to find food for dinner”, I lightly greeted an immigration officer in front.

“Where are you going?”, he asked while checking my green passport.

“From Seoul, want to go back to Jakarta, Sir”

“Oh…”, He briefly answered and then ordered me to face the camera and do fingerprints. By midnight that night, actually my stomach was already filled with wind because the dinner schedule had long passed. But to complete the schedule, I chose to hasten my steps towards a restaurant. It was NZ Curry House which was an Indian restaurant located at Transportation Hub level 1 Gateway@klia2 mall.

(On my last visit at KLIA2 at the end 2019 when I was about to fly to Kochi-India, this restaurant area was undergoing renovations, either closed or just being repaired).

The mainstay menu which I often order when I stopped at this restaurant was “Nasi Lemak” with boiled eggs and a cup of hot O tea. For that menu, I usually only spend 6.5 Ringgit.

While tasting spoon by spoon of Nasi Lemak, I understood that after that I would only spend the night on the 1st floor while waiting for tomorrow to arrive. Therefore, I wasn’t in a hurry to eat my simple dish.

After eating, I took the time to change into a t-shirt in the toilet near restaurant and then went up for a while to level 2 to look for souvenirs at Jaya Grocer. For me, KLIA2 was also a favorite place to look for souvenirs if I didn’t have time to stop by in downtown, the halalness of Malaysian products, which were 61% of its citizen was Muslim, was a guarantee in itself. My main shopping target was the packaging of “Teh Tarik Aik Cheong” so I could enjoy it in my working days in my homeland’s capital. A package of Teh Tarik Aik Cheong contained 15 sachets I redeemed for 13 Ringgit that night.

After I got souvenirs, I immediately looked for a spot to lay down in 1st floor because that time had touched the dawn and my eyes had also turned red as if asking me to immediately close them.

Shortly after choosing, there were rows of empty seat in 1st floor in a corner of hall. After acquiring it, I felt half asleep on it until dawn.

However, I deserved to be grateful for KLIA2’s presence in my long history of traveling around Asia.

Next Story—->

Citilink QG 145 dari Semarang (SMG) ke Jakarta (HLP)

25 October 202125 October 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Rute penerbangan Citilink QG 145. Sumber: https://flightaware.com/

Titan mentraktirku makan siang sebelum tiba di hotel. Seporsi nasi pecel di dekat SMAN 1 Semarang. Kemudian dia juga membekaliku Bandeng Presto khas Semarang untuk dibawa pulang ke Jakarta. Wah, baik sekali teman saya yang satu ini.

Sebelum benar-benar check-out, Titan yang penasaran tentang bagaimana caraku memilih penginapan murah, ikut bersamaku ke ruangan dormitory. Diperhatikannya lekat-lekat ruangan dormitory beserta kapsul-kapsul tidurnya. “Hebat kamu Don, bisa tidur di kapsul seperti ini”, ungkapnya sambil tersenyum. “Di luar negeri aku juga melakukan hal yang sama, Titan. Itu mengapa aku bisa traveling dengan biaya yang murah”, jawabku sambil berbisik.

Toyota Calya berwarna orange metallic, menjemputku di Sleep & Sleep Capsule. Serentak aku berpamitan dengan Titan untuk meninggalkan Semarang. Terimakasih Titan.

Pukul 15:25 aku sudah tiba di bandara. Tanpa basa-basi dan eksplorasi, aku bergegas menuju ke konter check-in. Aku hanya berjarak empat puluh lima menit dari boarding time. Konter yang tak terlalu ramai membuatku bisa menyelesaikan proses check-in hanya dalam lima belas menit dan akhirnya boarding pass sudah digenggaman….Aman.

Aku terus fokus menuju ke waiting room dengan cepat. Kini aku hanya berjarak tiga puluh menit menuju penerbangan pulang. Dan tepat lima belas menit sebelum boarding, aku sudah mencapai waiting room dan duduk terengah. Tak lama menikmati keelokan ruangan tunggu itu, panggilan dari ground staff untuk bersiap terbang pun menggema. Aku kini bersiap di Gate 3A untuk memasuki kabin pesawat.

Interior kabin Citilink QG 145. Terduduk di bangku bernomor 10A.

Kini aku sudah duduk di bangku yang sesuai dengan nomornya di boarding pass. Aku bersiap menuju Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport yang berjarak 394 Km dari Ahmad Yani International Airport. Aku akan mengudara bersama selongsong terbang Airbus A320 dengan ketinggian maksimal 26.000 kaki, dengan kecepatan 520 mph dan waktu tempuh 53 menit.

Selama proses boarding, aku terus menikmati keindahan terminal penumpang baru milik Ahmad Yani International Airport dari jendela pesawat. Tampak pesawat hilir mudik datang dan pergi di sisi kiri pesawat yang kunaiki. Langit tampak mendung, pertanda aku harus siap mengalami sedikit guncangan sesaat setelah take-off nanti.

Waktu yang dinanti tiba, pesawat sudah bersiap di landas pacu dan menunggu izin untuk menggeber mesin jetnya menuju udara. Aku hanya sibuk membaca inflight magazine Linkers milik maskapai Citilink. Perlahan pesawat mulai melaju dan menampilan keseluruhan bentuk bandara dari ujung ke ujung. Cantik nian Ahmad Yani International Airport.

Bangunan terminal beserta ATC Ahmad Yani International Airport saat *take-off*.

Sebelum menembus gumpalan awan tebal diatas, penerbangan ini sempat secara cepat menampilkan keindahan pantai utara Semarang. Perpaduan awan gelap dengan sinar matahari berwarna oranye yang menembus sela-sela awan dipadu dengan birunya laut dengan rayapan-rayapan kapal di sekitar pelabuhan…Hmmhh, Semarang yang sangat otentik.

Getaran mulai terasa ketika pesawat ingin menstabilkan ketinggian terbangnya. Tetapi setelahnya langit kembali bersih dan menampakkan keindahan dari ketinggian. Sore itu aku tak mau memejamkan mata dan melewatkan pertunjukan langit yang menakjubkan itu.

Matahari versi langit dan Matahari versi laut….Indah bukan?.

Pilot sangat mahir menghindari kumpulan awan….Penerbangan yang mulus.

Penerbangan yang benar-benar terasa sangat singkat. Citilink mulai merendahkan diri diatas langit ibukota. Mempertontokan daratan Bekasi yang sangat padat. Beberapa ikon kota tampak jelas terlihat dari atas. Stadion Patriot Candrabhaga yang pernah kusambangi saat pertandingan Piala Presiden antara Bali United dan Semen Padang FC hanya demi melihat sosok Irfan Bachdim lebih dekat.

Sedangkan pemandangan lain adalah jalur LRT yang sedang dibangun di sepanjang ruas tol Cikampek, terlihat sangat elok. Itulah jalur yang kulewati hampir setiap hari sepanjang profesiku menjadi tenaga penjual di Ibukota.

Stadion Patriot Chandrabhaga tampak dari ketinggian.

Konstruksi jalur LRT yang sedang dalam proses pengerjaan.

Citilink QG 145 mendarat di Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport dengan sangat mulus. Seperti biasa penumpang akan turun dan berjalan kali di area apron menuju ke bangunan utama terminal. Aku bergegas menuju conveyor belt untuk mengambil bagasi dan kemudian pulang menggunakan ojek onlie menuju rumah.

Beberapa pemunpang menunggu kehadiran *Apron Free Shuttle Bus*. Aku lebih memilih berjalan kaki saja.

Pernerbangan indah kesekian kali bersama Citilink. Terimakasih Citilink.

Alternatif untuk tiket pesawat dari Semarang ke Jakarta bisa dicari di 12Go atau link berikut: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

TAMAT

Air Asia AK 382 dari Kuala Lumpur ke Jakarta

23 June 20214 July 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

*Flight Information Display System* (FIDS) di depan tempatku tidur.

Memasuki Jum’at, sekitar jam setengah lima, waktu subuh Malaysia tiba, aku terduduk mengumpulkan nyawa di salah satu deret bangku di Tranportation Hub yang berlokasi di Gateway@klia2 mall level 1. Aku masih mengucek mata ketika beberapa pejalan lain masih saja mendengkur di sekitar.

Aku memaksakan kaki untuk melangkah ke surau lantai 1 yang terletak di luar bangunan terminal demi menunaikan kewajiban pada Sang Pencipta yang telah menganugerahkan waktu dan dana buat berpetualang menembus Asia Timur….Terimakasih ya Allah.

Waktu penerbangan yang dijadwakan pukul tujuh pagi membuatku tak berani menganggarkan waktu bersarapan. Aku hanya membeli dua roti cokelat kemasan di sebuah minimarket yang terletak di sebelah NZ Curry House sebagai bekal di pesawat nanti.

Pukul lima, aku sudah menuju check-in desk di lantai 3 Main Terminal Building untuk mendapatkan boarding pass menuju Soekarno Hatta International Airport. Tak lama kemudian, aku menuju konter imigrasi untuk mendapatkan izin keluar dari Malaysia. Sesuai prediksi, semua berlangsung dengan mudah dan cepat.

Setengah jam sebelum boarding pun aku tiba di gate dan memergoki Air Asia AK 382 terparkir manis di depannya.Tak lama dari kedatanganku, gate pun benar-benar dibuka. Aku mulai memasuki ruang tunggu setelah melaporkan boarding pass dan paspor pada ground staff yang memeriksa setiap penumpang.

Beberapa menit selanjutnya….Pilot, co-pilot dan beberapa pramugari-pramugara memasuki pesawat untuk bersiap. Kesibukan loading di lambung pesawat, pengisian avtur dan inflight meal loading menjadi pemandangan yang menarik perhatianku dalam setiap tahapnya hingga semuanya usai dengan baik.

Pengumuman boarding pun memenuhi langit-langit bandara, aku segera mengantri, lalu memasuki kabin melalui aerobridge penuh rasa sumringah karena tak lama lagi petualanganku akan usai. Aku menemukan tempat duduk persis berada di ekor pesawat. Maklum, ini tiket murah meriah yang terbeli sejak sembilan bulan sebelum penerbangan.

Semenjak proses boarding, peragaan prosedur keselamatan penerbangan, taxiing, take-off, airborne hingga cruising, aku tak sekalipun menyentuh majalah Travel 360 yang merupakan inflight magazinenya Air Asia. Tentu saja bosan, aku telah berkali kali membacanya semenjak penerbangan QZ 200 (Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur), AK 170 (Kuala Lumpur-Kaohsiung) dan D7 505 (Seoul-Kuala Lumpur). Dua belas jam lebih selama ketiga penerbangan itu aku sudah khatam membaca inflight magazine itu.

Usai menikmati roti coklat kemasan, aku terlelap dengan cepatnya. Tidur yang tak lelap semalam membuat mataku tak lagi berdaya untuk terjaga selama di udara. Aku tidur….dan mudah-mudahan tak mendengkur……????

Aku benar-benar lelap hingga pengumuman pesawat yang akan segera mendarat di Soekarno Hatta International Airport membangunkan mata. Meninggalkan sedikit pening dan mengambil sedikit waktu untuk menjernihkan mata, terlihat garis-garis bergerak cepat di luar sana dan terpantau dari jendela. Pesawat sedang landing…..

Spoiler di sayap pesawat tampak berdiri membantu menahan laju angin untuk menghentikan badan pesawat yang melaju kencang di landasan. Tak lama kemudian pesawat mulai melakukan taxiing dan merapat di apron.

Ahhh…usai sudah.

Dengan senyum tipis, aku meninggalkan badan pesawat melalui aerobridge dan memasuki bangunan bandara. Aku segera menuju konter imigrasi untuk mengesahkan paspor dengan arrival stamp.

Setelahnya aku segera menuju konter Bus DAMRI demi menuju Terminal Kampung Rambutan dan pulaaangggg…..

Untuk mendapatkan tiket penerbangan dari Kuala Lumpur ke Jakarta, Anda bisa mencarinya di 12go Asia dengan link berikut: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

TAMAT

Sembilan Jam Singgah di Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2

20 June 202124 June 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Bagi sebagian besar pengelana, Kuala Lumpur International Airport menjadi titik paling aduhai untuk melompat ke negara asia lainnya. Tentu keberadaan maskapai Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Air Asia yang membuatnya demikian. Sejak 2001, Air Asia telah memberikan akses murah bagi para pejalan untuk berkeliling Asia. Berkat Air Asia pula sudah 21 kali aku menyinggahi KLIA selama menjelajah Asia.

Tapi dalam kisah ini adalah delapan….Yups, ini kali kedelapan aku menjejakkan langkah di Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Lewat jam sepuluh malam, roda raksasa Air Asia D7 505 berdebam lembut menyentuh KLIA2. Perjalanan 5 jam 50 menit dari Seoul pun usai sudah. Kesan pertamaku mencicipi pesawat berbadan lebar Airbus A330 sungguh menyenangkan. Terbang melintasi Laut Kuning dan Laut China Timur berlangsung dengan turbulensi yang bisa dianggap tiada, tenang dan mulus tanpa hambatan. Itu mungkin salah satu keuntungan menunggang pesawat berbadan besar ketika menjelajah angkasa.

Usai taxiing beberapa menit, Air Asia D7 505 pun merapat di apron dan sesaat setelah pintu pesawat terbuka, aku pun memasuki bangunan KLIA2 melalui aerobridge. Aku kembali menjejak KLIA2 setelah sepuluh hari sebelumnya menyinggahinya untuk melompat ke Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Sungguh perasaan yang membahagiakan malam itu karena aku sudah berada dekat dengan rumah, hanya 2 jam 15 menit jauhnya lewat udara.

Dan bagiku singgah di KLIA2 akan lebih afdol jika keluar dari konter imigrasi, karena aku bisa menemukan banyak sajian kuliner di Gateway@klia2 mall daripada hanya berdiam diri di transfer hall.

“Transit Pak Cik, ingin cari makan malam”, sapa ringanku pada seorang petugas imigrasi di hadapan.

“Dari mane mau kemane?”, tanyanya sambil memeriksa paspor hijauku.

“Dari Seoul, mau pulang ke Jakarta, Pak Cik”

“Oh…”, jawabnya singkat lalu mempersilahkanku untuk menghadap kamera dan melakukan sidik jari.

Menjelang tengah malam itu, sebetulnya lambungku sudah lebih dahulu dipenuhi oleh angin karena jadwal makan malam sudah lama lewat.Tetapi untuk melengkapi jadwal itu, aku memilih untuk menyegerakan langkah menuju tempat makan langganan. Adalah NZ Curry House yang merupakan restoran India yang terletak di Transportation Hub level 1 Gateway@klia2 mall.

(pada kunjungan terakhirku di KLIA2 di akhir 2019 saat akan terbang ke Kochi-India, area restoran ini sedang mengalami renovasi, entah tutup atau sekedar diperbaiki).

Menu andalan yang sering kupesan ketika singgah di restoran ini adalah adalah nasi lemak dengan telur rebus serta secangkir teh O panas. Untuk menu tersebut biasanaya aku hanya mengeluarkan uang sebesar 6,5 Ringgit.

Sembari mengecap suap demi suap nasi lemak itu, aku faham bahwa setelahnya aku hanya akan menghabiskan malam di lantai 1 sambil menunggu esok tiba. Oleh karenanya, aku tak terburu-buru dalam menyantap hidangan sederhana itu.

Usai makan, aku menyempatkan berganti t-shirt di toilet dekat restoran dan kemudian naik sebentar ke level 2 untuk mencari oleh-oleh di Jaya Grocer. Bagiku, KLIA2 juga menjadi tempat favorit untuk mencari oleh-oleh jika tak sempat menyinggahi kota, kehalalan produk Malaysia yang 61% berpenduduk muslim menjadi jaminan tersendiri. Target utama belanjaku adalah kemasan Teh Tarik Aik Cheong untuk bisa kunikmati pada hari-hari bekerjaku di Ibu Kota nanti. Satu kemasan Teh Tarik Aik Cheong berisi 15 sachet kutebus dengan 13 Ringgit malam itu.

Setelah oleh-oleh kudapatkan, aku segera mencari spot untuk merebahkan diri di lantai 1 karena waktu telah menyentuh dini hari dan mata juga telah memerah seakan memintaku untuk segera memejamkannya.

Tak lama memilih, terlihat deret bangku kosong di Lantai 1 di sebuah pojok hall. Usai mengakuisisi, aku tertidur setengah lelap diatasnya hingga subuh nanti tiba.

Bagaimanapun itu, aku pantas berterimakasih pada keberadaan KLIA2 dalam sejarah panjang perjalananku berkeliling Asia.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Thai Airways TG 436 from Jakarta (CGK) to Bangkok (BKK)

7 January 202122 January 2021travelingpersecond

Finally, I repeated my journey to “White Elephant” Country after my last exploration in 2013. For four years, I waited for that opportunity. If in 2013, I flew with Air Asia to Don Mueang International Airport so this time I was very lucky because I was able to catch a cheap promo which was issued by Thai Airways in April 2017.

Waiting for 8 months before actually flying was something that was very unpleasant. Not because of Bangkok, but only because of my desire to taste premium wide-body aircraft. A year before, I had boarded in same type of plane belonging to Air Asia when I returned from Incheon.

—- **** —-

After Friday, I perfected my packing for 11 days trip which would certainly make you were curious. At exactly 15:00 hours, I hurriedly carried my backpack on “angkot” (a small public trasportation in Jakarta) which went to Kampung Rambutan Terminal. That angkot which took so long to arrive, punished me by taking a DAMRI bus in next- a departure schedule.

On 16:00 hours, DAMRI launched but not long after, toll road became stuck. DAMRI didn’t moved in a long time. There have been road repairing in a tunnel combined with an incident which a truck rolled over 400 meters in front. Even though, my flight was scheduled for 19:05 hours. That means, I have to be ready at 17:55 hours before actually boarding….Too tight time.
Luckily, a Highway Patrol sirens began to sound in its way heading forward. Significantly, 15 minutes later DAMRI smoothly drove to Terminal 2-Soekarno Hatta International Airport.

Thai Airways finally became the 18th airline which I rode.

Luckily, Soekarno Hatta International Airport was very quiet and only needed 5 minutes for check-in process, and then I got a purple and white boarding pass. I passed all x-ray checkpoints very quickly as only a 45 litre backpack which needed to be screened.

I entered tAirbus A330-300 via its right-side cabin lane to find a seat numbered 52K. This time, it would be very relieved that I sat alone in three column seat. I was a plebeian….Just this time, I got on a plane with an LCD screen in front of my eyes….I pushed all button as I liked.

Jakarta-Bangkok is 3,000 km away and can be approached in 3 hours and 35 minutes with an average speed of 475 knots (880 km/hour). You can imagine how fast it is.

The moslem meal was served after giving a brown rice cracker and apple juice.

During flight, beautiful Thai-faced flight attendants were indeed captivating as far as my eye could see. Unfortunately, I was just a backpacker….If I was a top class businessman….. I would definitely propose to her….Hihihi.

Landing in the first time at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Arrival at 22:35 hours left me with no other option. It was impossible to leave the airport and heading for the city. If there was time, I might as well be reluctant. Because Bangkok wasn’t my destination….But, NEPAL.

Yess… .Nepal would be the 11th country which I visited.

Do you want to know about my next story to “The Land of a Thousand Temples”?
Just follow my story when I explored it.

Search for flights from Jakarta to Bangkok via 12go Asia. This is the link: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

Next Story—->

Citilink QG 145 from Semarang (SMG) to Jakarta (HLP)

28 October 202026 October 2020travelingpersecond

Citilink QG 145 flight route. Source: https://flightaware.com/

Titan treated me to lunch before arriving at hotel. A portion of Pecel ^1* rice near Public Senior High School 1 Semarang. Then he also supplied me with typical Semarang Presto ^2* Milkfish to take back to Jakarta. Wow, he was my kind friend.

Before actually checking out, Titan, who was curious about how I chose cheap lodging, he came with me to dormitory room. He paid close attention to dormitory room and its sleeping capsules. “Great Donny, can you sleep in a capsule like this?“, he said with a smile. “When abroad, I did the same thing, Titan. That’s why I can travel at a low cost”, I replied in a whisper.

Toyota Calya in orange metallic color, picked me up at Sleep & Sleep Capsule. Simultaneously, I said goodbye to Titan to leave Semarang. Thank you Titan.

On 15:25 hours, I arrived at the airport. Without further ado and exploration, I hurried over to check-in counter. I was only forty-five minutes from boarding time. Less crowded counters allowed me to finish check-in process in fifteen minutes and finally my boarding pass was in my hand….Nice.

I continued to focus on heading to waiting room quickly. I was only thirty minutes away from flight. And exactly fifteen minutes before boarding, I reached waiting room and sat down with gasping. Not long, after enjoying the beauty of waiting room, A call from ground staff to got ready to fly echoed. Now, I was preparing at Gate 3A to enter aircraft cabin.

Citilink QG 145’s cabin interior. Sat on seat number 10A.

Now I was sitting on seat which matched with its number on boarding pass. I was getting ready to go to Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, which was 394 Km from Ahmad Yani International Airport. I would fly with Airbus A320’s flying casings with a maximum altitude of 26,000 feet, with a speed of 520 mph and a travel time of 53 minutes.

During boarding process, I continued to enjoy the beauty of Ahmad Yani International Airport’s new passenger terminal from plane window. Seen some planes were back and forth coming and going on left side of plane which I was riding. The sky was cloudy, a sign that I should be prepared for a little turbulence right after take-off.

The time when had been waiting arrived, the plane was already getting ready on runway and waiting for permission to spur its jet engine into air. I was just busy in reading Citilink’s inflight magazine, i.e Linkers. Plane slowly began to advance and showing overall shape of airport from end to end. Beautiful of Ahmad Yani International Airport.

Which destination was that Air Asia to ?.

Terminal building along with ATC of Ahmad Yani International Airport during take-off.

Before breaking through thick clouds above, this flight quickly showed the beauty of Semarang’s north coast. Combination of dark clouds with orange sunlight which penetrated between clouds, combined with blue sea with the creeping of ships around port….Hmmhh, a very authentic Semarang.

The vibrations began to be felt when plane wanted to stabilize its flying altitude. But after that, sky returned clean and revealed its beauty from a height. That afternoon, I didn’t want to close my eyes and mised that amazing sky show.

The sun version of sky and the sun version of sea …. Beautiful isn’t it ?.

Pilots were very adept in dodging clouds….Smooth flight.

Flight incredibly felt short. Citilink began to get down above capital sky. Land of Bekasi was very dense. Several city icons were clearly visible from above. Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, which I visited during President Cup match between Bali United and Semen Padang FC, just for seeing Irfan Bachdim’s figure closer.

While another view was LRT line which was being built along Cikampek toll road, it looked very beautiful. That was the path which almost I have taken every day throughout my profession as a salesman in capital city.

Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium was visible from a height.

LRT line which was currently under construction.

Citilink QG 145 landed at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport very smoothly. As usual, passengers would get off and walked at apron area to main terminal building. I rushed to conveyor belt to pick up luggage and then went home using an online motorcycle taxi.

Several visitors were waiting for Apron Free Shuttle Bus. I prefered to walk..

Many beautiful flights with Citilink. Thank you Citilink.

Alternatives for flight tickets from Semarang to Jakarta can be searched on 12Go or the following link: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

TG 436: Mewah Mengudara Menuju Bangkok

8 March 20208 March 2020travelingpersecond

Akhirnya aku mengulang perjalanan menuju Negeri Gajah Putih setelah eksplorasi terakhir pada 2013. Empat tahun lamanya, aku menunggu kesempatan itu. Jika 2013, aku terbang bersama Air Asia menuju Don Mueang International Airport maka kali ini aku sangat mujur karena bisa menangkap promo murah meriah yang dikeluarkan oleh Thai Airways pada April 2017.

Menunggu selama 8 bulan sebelum benar-benar terbang adalah sesuatu yang sangat tak mengenakkan. Bukan karena Bangkok nya, tapi hanya karena hasrat mencicipi pesawat premium berbadan lebar. Setahun sebelum, aku pernah menaiki jenis pesawat yang sama milik Air Asia ketika pulang dari Incheon.

—-****—-

Selepas Jum’atan, aku menyempurnakan packing untuk perjalanan selama 11 hari yang tentu akan membuat penasaran. Tepat jam 3 sore, aku bergegas memanggul backpack menaiki angkot menuju Terminal Kampung Rambutan. Angkot yang begitu lama tiba, membuatku terhukum dengan menaiki bus DAMRI satu jadwal keberangkatan lebih lambat.

Jam 16:00, DAMRI meluncur tetapi tak berselang lama kondisi jalan tol menjadi stuck. DAMRI sungguh lama tak bergerak. Terusut sudah terdapat perbaikan jalan di sebuah terowongan dikombinasi dengan insiden truk terguling 400 meter setelahnya. Padahal penerbanganku terjadwal jam 19:05. Itu berarti aku harus siap pada jam 17:55 sebelum benar-benar boarding….Mepeeetttt.

Beruntung sirine Highway Patrol mulai terdengar merangsek ke depan. Signifikan, 15 menit kemudian DAMRI melaju mulus menuju Terminal 2 Soetta.

Thai Airways akhirnya menjadi maskapai ke-18 yang kunaiki.

Beruntung Soetta melompong dan hanya perlu 5 menit untuk proses check-in kemudian boarding pass ungu putih tergenggam. Semua pos pemeriksaan x-ray kulewati dengan sangat cepat karena hanya satu backpack 45L saja yang perlu di screening.

Aku memasuki Airbus A330-300 melalui jalur kabin sebelah kanan untuk menemukan bangku bernomor 52K. Kali ini akan menjadi sangat lega karena aku duduk di bangku kolom tiga sendirian. Ndeso….Baru kali ini naik pesawat dengan layar LCD didepan mata….Pencat-pencet sesuka hati.

Jakarta-Bangkok yang berjarak darat sejauh 3.000 km di tempuh dalam waktu 3 jam 35 menit dengan kecepatan rata-rata 475 knot ( 880 km/jam). Bisa dibayangkan betapa kencangnya.

*Moslem meal* yang disajikan setelah *brown rice cracker* dan *apple juice* di berikan.

Selama penerbangan, pramugari cantik berwajah khas Thailand memang sungguh memikat sejauh mata memandang. Untung saya hanya backpacker kere…..Andai aku businessman kelas atas…..Pasti aku akan lamar dia….Hihihi.

Pertama kali *landing* di *runway* Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Tiba pada pukul 22:35 menyebabkan aku tak punya opsi lain. Tak mungkin keluar bandara dan beranjak menuju kota. Jika ada waktu pun, saya mungkin juga enggan. Karena bukan Bangkok tujuanku….Tapi, NEPAL.

Yess….Nepal akan menjadi negara ke-11 yang kukunjungi.

Mau tahu kan kisahku berikutnya ke “Negeri Seribu Kuil”

Ikutin kisahku selama disana ya.

Cari tiket penerbangan dari Jakarta ke Bangkok melalui 12go Asia. Berikutnya linknya: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

Bus from KLIA2 to KL Sentral

17 January 202025 December 2019travelingpersecond

KLIA2 is the most popular airport terminal for travelers to visit to Malaysia. So, if you are one of them, your chances to landing on KLIA2 (Terminal 2) will be higher than landing on KLIA (Terminal 1). This is because LCC (Low Cost Carrier) aircraft such as Air Asia and Scoot Air will land on KLIA2.

Of course, you will go to Kuala Lumpur downtown after landing. There are three choices of transportation modes which can be used, namely taxi, KLIA Express train and airport bus. Now, back to the opportunity, then the most chance which will be used by travelers is using airport bus because this transportation mode is the cheapest one. Here’s the comparison:

KLIA2 to KL Sentral.

1. Using taxi = USD 22.8

2. Using KLIA Express train = USD 14.2

3. Using airport bus = USD 3.1 (the most cheapest)

Therefore, I need to write my journey story when using airport bus from KLIA2 to Kuala Lumpur downtown, which passengers will be dropped off at KL Sentral.

Long time before, I had also written about my trip using Airport Coach from KLIA to KL Sentral. You can see it in the following link:

Bus from KLIA to KL Sentral, Malaysia

Now, I will write my trip from KLIA2 to KL Sentral. Here’s the story:

On exactly 9:15 hours, I passed KLIA2 immigration counter. Early morning flight didn’t provide me an opportunity even if only just eating an omlet like my usual day at home. This made my stomach was very hungry after arriving at KLIA2.

A moment later, I sat at HomeTown Hainan Coffee on 2nd floor of Gateway @ KLIA2 mall. Eating 2 half-cooked eggs for USD 1.5 made my stomach which continued to rebel slightly calm .

Its cool name is Omega Half Boiled Eggs….Hahaha.

Three restaurant waitresses were closely watching me when I pulled out many sheets of 1 Malaysian Ringgit. Yes, I asked for 50 sheets to DolarAsia money changer at Melawai Street, South Jakarta when exchanging money. Hahaha….Swear, I was really embarrassing five years ago.

Heading to 1st floor which is location of KLIA2 Transportation Hub. Then I hurried to Aerobus ticket sales counter.

Those are taxi and bus ticket sales counter at KLIA2.

At that time, Aerobus ticket fare (on 2014) was USD 1.2. But last time when I went to KLIA2 again in April 2019, this bus fare was already at USD 2.6.

Ticket fare have double increased after 5 years.

I waited for Aerobus Express at platform no A05 on 15 minutes before departure time. Positively thing of this bus is its time accuracy. Besides Aerobus Express, another bus company which operating on this route is Aerosky Ventures or better known as Skybus.

Only needed to show ticket which I had bought then bus staff would tore driver copy part of ticket. Every time I take a bus in Malaysia, for some reason I really like to taking a back seat. Sitting in the back might be more free for me to observe around.

Aerobus would run to KL Sentral via MEX (Maju Expressway) Toll Road. 50 minutes trip that I spent for watching situation of Selangor state streets.

Approaching the end of trip, bus slowly entered to Stesen Sentral road to stop at KL Sentral.

Do you know KL Sentral, right? It stands for Kuala Lumpur Sentral which is main train station in Kuala Lumpur and the largest train station in Southeast Asia. Located in Brickfields area and integrated with shopping centres, hotels, offices and condos.

Bus shelter with KL Sentral to KLIA/KLIA2 route is located in KL Sentral Basement. Here is the shelter:

Aerobus and Skybus which were taking passengers at KL Sentral.

From Basement, I only needed to go up by escalator to 1st floor to reached gate which headed to commuter and LRT platform.

I was already at gate and getting ready for Batu Caves.

For some transportation modes from KLIA2 to KL Sentral, you can get the ticket at 12Go Asia or at following link: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

Anyer, KLIA2 Arrival Hall and Malaysian Immigration

10 January 202024 December 2019travelingpersecond

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.

—-****—-

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.

—-****—-

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.

—-****—-

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.

The old Terminal 3 (when Terminal 3 Ultimate wasn’t built yet).

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

QZ 202 which would fly at 6:25 hours with travel time of 1 hour 50 minutes.

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.

—-****—-

Yuhuuuu….First landing in Mahathir Muhammad’s land.

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.

KLIA2 which operated in 2014, replaced LCCT (*Low Cost Carrier Terminal*) function.

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

Water station which made me glad….Free water

Female toilet, nursing room and disabled toilet in arrival hall.

Departure flight information at KLIA2 is also available in arrival hall corridor.

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.

Come on….Enter the immigration counter….No matter about what would happen.

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.

Look at my appearance, really suspicious as a tourist.

Continue to follow my story about Malaysia in following articles.