Air Asia AK 380 dari Kuala Lumpur ke Jakarta: Mengukur Jejak Chai di KLIA2

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Geretan travel bag para pengunjung bandara akhirnya membuatku terbangun…..

Aku bangkit dan terduduk di area sempit nan pendek tepat di bawah pangkal escalator. Kulihat layar telepon pintar, waktu menunjukkan pukul setengah lima pagi. Mataku yang masing mengantuk dan badan yang belum benar-benar segar harus kupaksakan untuk mulai beraktivitas.

Aku membuka travel bag, mengaduk-aduk isinya, mencari keberadaan kemaja putih beserta jas dan dasi. Aku harus segera pergi ke toilet untuk menyikat gigi, mencuci muka dan berganti baju formal sebagai persiapan menghadapi rapat ketika aku tiba di Jakarta beberapa jam ke depan.

Selesai urusan toilet, aku berinisiatif untuk segera mencari sarapan di koridor menuju deret gerbang Q, itu karena aku akan dilepas landas dari Gate Q13.

Mataku awas menyapu sekitar koridor hingga akhirnya menemukan sebuah tenant kuliner yang cukup ramai dikunjungi para pelancong.

NOOODLES”, aku membaca nama tenant itu.

Tanpa ragu, aku melangkah menujunya. Seorang pria India menungguku di meja kasir.

Penang Curry Noodle Soup.

Hello, Sir. Welcome. Please see our menu!”, dia menujukkan padaku deretan menu di meja kasir

Penang Curry Noodle Soup….Can you make it less spicy”, aku meminta menu khusus kepadanya karena memang tak suka pedas.

Yes, of course….28.9 Ringgit, Sir”, dia menambahkan.

And Chai….One”, aku mengacungkan jari telunjuk.

What….”, dia agak terheran mendengar kata itu

Chai, Sir…”, aku mengulangnya kembali. Aku justru heran kenapa dia yang berketurunan India tidak tahu istilah Chai

I don’t know what do you say, Sir”, dia menengadahkan kedua tangannya

Teh Tarek, Sir….” Aku menjelaskan dengan cara yang lebih mudah

Oh, I See….6,9 Ringit, Sir”, dia menambahkan tagihan dalam bill ku

Usai membayar 35,8 Ringgit aku pun mulai mencari tempat duduk

Aku mengambil tempat duduk di sofa restoran yang memanjang untuk mendapatkan rasa nyaman. Sedangkan hanya beberapa meter di sisi kananku, seorang karyawan restoran wanita keturunan India tampak tertidur pulas di bangku yang sama. Aku menebaknya sebagai karyawan “Nooodles” karena t-shirt yang dikenakannya.

Makanan yang kupesan tersaji tak lama kemudian. Aku menyantapnya dengan lahap karena memang aku selalu saja suka dengan segenap resep makanan Negeri Jiran, selalu sesuai dengan selera lidahku. Dan Teh Tarik khas Malaysia akhirnya menjadi penutup sarapan pagi itu.

Sekiranya pukul enam pagi, aku meninggalkan restoran “Nooodle” dan mulai bergerak menuju gate. Aku melangkah cepat menujunya walaupun aku tahu bahwa gate masih akan tutup dan aku akan menunggu di surau hingga gate dibuka.

Lima menit melangkah, begitu sumringahnya aku setelah melihat kenyataan bahwa gate room sudah dibuka. Maka aku menyegerakan untuk menjalankan Shalat Subuh untuk kemudian memutuskan untuk mengambil sebuah tempat duduk di pojok ruang tunggu dan memejamkan mata dengan cepat karena sejatinya aku masih digelayuti rasa kantuk akut.

ZZZZZZZZ…….

Entah berapa lama aku tertidur, hingga tiba-tiba….

Hello Sir….Can you wait outside the room?”, seorang airport staff menegur.

Aku yang gelagapan terbangun, mengucek mata dan lamat memperhatikan staff wanita itu.

Yes, Ms….What happen?”, aku yang bingung pun akhirnya bertanya

Can you wait outside, sir. We will start the boarding procedure”, dia menunjuk ke boarding gate.

Tampak empat staff Air Asia sedang menyiapkan diri dan bangku ruangan yang tadinya dipenuhi calon penumpang telah kosong kembali. Itu artinya, aku dibiarkan tidur sendirian di dalam ruangan hingga ditegur oleh staff bandara.

Tanpa pikir panjang, aku keluar dari ruangan dan akhirnya harus berdiri di ujung antrian. Aku terus diperhatikan semua penumpang yang telah mengantri sedari beberapa menit sebelumya dan aku terpaksa harus menyembunyikan rasa malu dalam-dalam.

Tak lama mengantri, antrian itu mulai merangsek masuk kembali ke gate room. Sabar mengantri dari ujung, aku akhirnya tiba di depan pintu, kemudian harus menyerahkan boarding pass dan passport untuk kemudian dipersilahkan masuk ke dalam gate room.

Menuju Gate Q13.
Air Asia AK 380 (Airbus 320 twin-jet).
Cariin bangkuku,gaes!….Nomor 16A.
Sunrise di Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.
Tiba di Soekarno Hatta International Airport.

Tak perlu lama duduk, proses boarding akhirnya dimulai.

Melalui aerobridge, aku perlahan mendekati pintu kabin. Dan ketika benar-benar memasuki kabin, aku merangsek ke dalam untuk mencari bangku bernomor 16A.

Di window seat, aku duduk bersebelahan dengan dua orang ustadz asal Malaysia. Tepat di sebelahku adalah sekarang ustadz bergamis dan bertubuh kurus, sedangkan di aisle seat terduduk seorang ustadz berperawakan tambun yang tampak sangat kerepotan untuk duduk di dalam pesawat berjenis Low Cost Carrier (LCC).

Penerbangan menggunakan Airbus A320 twin-jet itu berlangsung selama 1 jam 55 menit dengan jarak tempuh lebih dari 1.100 km.  Pernerbangan pagi itu sangat menyenangkan karena pesawat sama sekali tidak mengalami turbulensi.

Satu momen yang menyita perhatian adalah ketika pesawat Air Asia yang kutumpangi, terbang bersebelahan dengan pesawat Garuda Indonesia yang sama-sama hendak mendarat di Soekarno Hatta International Airport.

Salip menyalip di udara itu akhirya terhenti ketika Air Asia dan Garuda Indonesia menyentuh landasannya masing-masing dan lindap di balik bangunan bandara ketika melakukan taxiing demi mengantarkan masing-masing penumpangnya di terminal akhir yang dituju.

Aku sendiri tiba di Soekarno Hatta International Airport pada pukul 08:30. Itu artinya aku akan terlambat menghadiri rapat di kantor yang rencananya akan dimulai pada pukul 09:00.

Semenjak memasuki bangunan terminal, aku terus berlari menuju konter imigrasi. Aku sengaja memanfaatkan e-passport gate untuk menghindari antrian, mengisi formular bea cukai secara daring dan mencari taksi INKOPAU seharga 300 ribu demi menuju kantor.

Benar adanya, aku harus terlambat 30 menit dalam mengikuti rapat. Hanya saja tak semua orang tahu bahwa aku langsung menghadiri rapat di kantor sepulang dari Phuket dan mendarat di Soekarno Hatta International Airport.

Dasar travel maniac kamu, Donny….

—-TAMAT—-

Air Asia AK 823 dari Phuket ke Kuala Lumpur

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Rute penerbangan Air Asia AK 823 (sumber: flightaware).

Waktu satu setengah jam aku manfaatkan dengan cara duduk bersantai di salah satu bangku di waiting hall sembari menikmati secangkir cold latte sehaga 89 Baht yang aku beli dari salah satu tenant kopi, Phuket International Airport. Tenant itu bernama Siam Express dengan tagline utamaya Fresh & Go dan terletak persis di depan Gate 9, tempat pelepasan pesawat yang akan kutumpangi.

Gerbang itu berebelahan dengan Gate 10 yang akan digunakan VietJet Air untuk boarding menuju Vietnam.

Kursi di waiting hall tampak penuh malam itu, susah sekali untuk mendapatkan bangku kosong. Tetapi beruntung, aku mendapatkan satu bangku kosong di sebuah koridor tersembunyi, tepat di belakang sebuah tenant souvenir.

Setelah menunggu satu setengah jam lamanya, akhirnya panggilan boarding menggema di langit-langit bangunan terminal. Aku mengambil antrian di belakang seorang pasangan muda Malaysia yang tampak mesra, bak perangko dengan amplopnya, aku sendiri akhirnya menebak bahwa mereka usai berbulan madu di Phuket.

Aku melewati bagian pemeriksaan boarding pass dengan mudah, kemudian menuruni tangga demi menuju ke sebuah koridor dimana deretan gate pelepasan di tempatkan.

Memasuki aerobridge, aku terus merangsek menuju kabin dan segera mencari keberadaan window seat bernomor 32A, aku menemukannya di bangku paling belakang tepat di depan toilet kabin.

Begitu duduk dan memasang sabuk pengaman, aku baru menyadari setelah melongok sejenak dari kaca jendela bahwa kondisi di luar bandara sedang hujan deras, setelah melongok sejenak dari kaca jendela.

Bersiap untuk boarding.
Itu dia penampakan Air Asia AK 823 (Airbus A320 twin-jet).
Boarding di kursi paling belakang.

Setengah jam lamanya proses boarding, hingga akhirnya pesawat telah bersiap untuk lepas landas. Pesawat memulai proses taxiing menuju runway ketika para awak kabin sedang memperagakan prosedur keselamatan penerbangan.

Berhenti di atas runway, sejenak pilot berkoordinasi dengan petugas ATC untuk meminta izin lepas landas. Setelah petugas ATC menyetakan siap dan aman, maka pesawat mulai menyalkan mesin jetnya, meluncur cepat di sepanjang runway untuk akhirnya berhasil airborne dengan sempurna.

Aku mulai terbang meninggalkan Phuket…..

Sejenak usai lepas landas, pelita bumi di atas Phuket tampak cantik walau tak semeriah pelita di kota-kota besar, aku menangkap sejenak beberapa gambar malam dari kota Phuket.

Pemandangan Phuket malam hari saat airborne.

Perjalanan menuju Kuala Lumpur sendiri ditempuh dalam jangka waktu satu setengah jam dengan menempuh jarak sejauh 1.200 kilometer.

Duduk di sebelah pria Malaysia yang kuduga dari dandanannya sebagai seorang pebisnis, aku memaksakan diri untuk tidur, mengingat pada malam sebelumnya aku kurang istirahat di Dormsin Hostel. Memang demikian jika aku hendak melakukan penerbangan, aku akan mengalami kesulitan tidur nyenyak karena takut tertinggal penerbangan.

Mataku sendiri akhirnya terbuka ketika pilot memberitahu kepada awak kabin bahwa pesawat bersiap untuk mendarat. Aku melongok ke jendela dan melihat pelita bumi di Kuala Lumpur tampak sangat indah dan dominan dilihat dari atas.

Sebentar lagi aku akan menginjakkan kaki di Kuala Lumpur kembali”, aku membatin sumringah.

Pesawat perlahan menurunkan ketinggian dan akhirnya roda raksasanya berhasil menyentuh landas pacu dengan mulus. Aku telah tiba di Kuala Lumpur untuk sekedar transit sebelum terbang kembali menuju Jakarta di keesokan paginya.

Pemandangan malam Kuala Lumpur dari atas.
Merapat di KLIA2

Usai taxiing, pesawat merapat ke bangunan terminak Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. Setelah pramugari membuka pintu pesawat,  aku merangsek melalui aerobridge menuju sisi dalam arrival hall demi mencari keberadaan transfer hall. Aku yang sudah hafal jalurnya, menemukan transferr hall itu dengan sangat mudah.

Malam itu, transfer hall dijaga oleh aviation security wanita. Dia hanya bertanya kepadaku hendak pergi kemana. Aku hanya menunjukkan boarding pass terusan yang kudapatkan dari Phuket International Airport beserta passport hingga dia menunjukkan pintu menuju transferr hall.

Memang malam itu aku terkesan malas untuk keluar dari konter imigrasi ketika tiba, melainkan lebih memilih untuk beristirahat saja di transfer hall mengingat di keesokan harinya aku ada agenda meeting dengan manajemen di perusahaan tempatku bekerja.

Mencari barisan Gate Q, akhirnya aku tiba di transit hall luas dan berkapet tebal. Aku yang merasa sangat haus, membeli jus apel kemasan di sebuah beverage tenant.

Aku pun segera mencari tempat tidur yang tepat untuk memejamkan mata. Aku menemukan tempat yang nyaman di bawah escalator dan aku dengan percaya diri tidur di bawah escalator tersebut hingga pagi menjelang.

Terimakasih KLIA2….Izinkan diriku untuk tidur sejenak…..

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

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Heading to KLIA2 from KL Sentral

<—-Previous Story

It would take a little longer to take a free service to the inn than riding the LRT “Laluan Kelana Jaya”. But in order to get around for the lack of Ringgit, I still decided to just take the free service of Go KL City Bus.

Hurrying to leave KLCC Park, I headed towards the KLCC bus stop which is located right in front of Suria KLCC. Arriving under the bus stop auspices, the green line of the “Free Bus Service” had been waiting for its passengers.

I rode it to reach the interchange point between lines, namely the Pavilion bus stop. From there I would catch the Go KL City Bus purple line to reach the Pasar Seni Bus Hub, the closest bus stop to my accommodation, namely The Bed Station.

—-****—-

Cheating underhandedly, I stepped up The Bed Station stairs, hoping not to be spotted by the receptionist when I crossed the inn’s front door. It was because I had checked out that morning, but that time, I forced myself to take a shower in the inn’s shared bathroom on the 3rd floor.

I made it through the reception room on the 2nd floor, at a glance I saw the reception staff were busy serving the inn’s guests who seemed to only just be arriving, indeed I arrived when the check-in period had opened.

Quickly moving, I immediately took a shower to clean all the sweat after walking around town that morning.

As soon as I finished bathing, I immediately went down to the reception desk to pick up the backpack I had left since morning.

The long queue at the reception desk made me invisible when I just came down from the top floor which wasn’t my right to enter it again, let alone to do any activity on that floor….Damn, Donny.

—-****—-

Succeeding to get a backpack, I rushed to Pasar Seni LRT Station which is only 200 meters from the inn.

When I arrived, I rushed to the automatic vending machine to exchange 1.3 Ringgit for a round blue token. That token would guarantee me to move toward KL Sentral.

The LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya with four wagons arrived to pick me up on the second-floor platform, and then I was following its spinning wheels heading to KL Sentral, which wasn’t even one station apart.

Within 15 minutes, I arrived at KL Sentral….

Down the escalator, I arrived at the first floor, and without long thinking, I immediately rushed to the basement level. I had an advantage in that I memorized the whole layout of KL Sentral, at least I had visited that famous transportation hub seven times. That was what made that so easy for me to reach the Aerobus ticket sales counter.

Aerobus is transportation from KL Sentral to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) which offers cheap travel when compared to using taxis, the KLIA Transit train, or the KLIA Ekspres.

I handed over 12 Ringgit to get a ticket to the airport.

—-****—-

A quarter of an hour past four in the afternoon….

After traveling for 45 minutes, I arrived at the 1st floor of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. I was dropped off at one of the platforms at the transportation hub at Gateway@klia2.

Even though my flight would take place at nine in the evening, that didn’t stop me from going straight to the 3rd floor to see more detailed flight information. As usual, I was always detailed and strict about flight schedules, at least that afternoon I had to find out the number of the check-in desk I would exchange my e-ticket for a boarding pass and at what gate my plane would take off.

I couldn’t hide a slight smile from my lips when I managed to get that information on the giant LCD on the 3rd floor.

“17:20, it turns out….”, I thought when I found out when the check-in desk would open.

I decided to do the last congregational prayer in the mosque on the 2nd floor and of course, planned to have dinner afterwards.

Not as usual when I was looking for food at KLIA2. That afternoon the regular restaurant serving cheap Indian food was closing. Was NZ Curry House whose location was covered by renovation boards.

But I don’t bother….

In 2015, I ate at a food court located on the 2M floor. I slightly forgot the position of the food court. But I intended to look for it until I found it. There was a padang-typical restaurant that offers cheap food in the food court.

“That’s it….”, I cheered inside when I saw the food court from a distance.

“Quizinn by RASA….”, I recited the name of that food court.

“Restoran Padang Kota Group….”, yupzzz I saw the restaurant I was looking for.

Presumably not able to linger, I headed for the Padang-typical restaurant and then looked for a menu according to the condition of my wallet. That was when my Ringgit would run out.

Fifteen minutes before checked-in, I was finally able to enjoy a portion of rice for 5.9 Ringgit. That was the rice I ate after I last ate it a day before.

Level 2 Gateway@klia2.
View from Gateway@klia2 Floor 2M.
Several restaurants at Gateway@klia2.
So, that was Quizinn by RASA food court.
My menu that night: White rice, hard-boiled eggs, and vegetables.

Taking a seat, I enjoyed the dinner and then got ready to take my flight.

Was I going home?….

No….The real adventure was about to begin.

I would fly to a city in southern India….KOCHI.

Imigrasi Malaysia: Memamerkan Kepercayaan Diri

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Hanya dalam sekejap, Air Asia QZ 206 genap menyelesaikan taxiing di sepanjang landas pacu demi menggapai di salah satu sisi apron.

Sambutan aerobridge menyusul dengan terjulur perlahan belalainya hingga menempel di pintu pesawat. Beberapa saat kemudian, pesawat mulai mengalirkan penumpangnya menuju bangunan terminal.

Aku yang keluar dari pintu pesawat di antrian depan, langsung mengejar keberadaan ibu paruh baya yang kutemui di Soetta. Kemudian aku menyejajari langkahnya dan berinisiatif untuk membantu menarik trolley bagnya. Si ibu pun tersenyum mendapatkan pertolongan kecil yang kuberikan.

Gede banget ya, A bandaranya”, wajah si ibu tampak menengok kesana-kemari.

Masih gedean, Soekarno-Hatta, Bu”, aku sabar mengerem langkah demi terus sejajar dengan langkahnya.

Aku akhirnya mengantarkan ibu paruh baya itu hingga ke pintu transfer hall Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA 2).

Ibu, silahan masuk ke transfer hall melalui pintu yang dijaga para petugas itu. Besok pagi dua jam sebelum waktu penerbangan, ibu harus mencari informasi di layar lebar seperti itu (aku menunjuk ke salah satu FIDS/Flight Information Display System)”, aku menjelaskan sambil berjongkok menyetarai tinggi badan si Ibu.

Baik, A. Nuhun ya atas bantuannya. Ati-ati, A di jalan”, dia menjulurkan tangannya dan meminta bersalaman.

Aku menggapai tangannya dan melempar senyum untuk menenangkannya.

Selanjutnya aku pergi menuju sebuah escalator panjang ke arah atas demi menuju konter imigrasi. Tetapi sebelum benar-benar menaiki escalator itu, aku menghentikan sejenak langkahku di depan sebuah konter penjualan Traveller SIM. Aku memandangi konter Tune Talk yang dominan merah itu, melihat paket data yang ditawarkan. Paket data sebesar 15 GB dibanderol dengan harga 30 Ringgit. Sejenak aku bergumul dengan budget. Akhirnya aku memutuskan untuk mengindahkannya, aku memilih bertahan satu malam tanpa kuota data. Aku akan berfokus untuk beristirahat saja.

Konter Tune Talk SIM Card.
Konter Digi SIM Card yang tampak tutup pada jam 11 malam.
Escalator menuju konter imigrasi.

Aku melanjutkan langgkah menuju konter imigrasi dan berdiri di salah satu antrian yang menurutku terbilang sepi dari masa normal. Jantungku berdegup lebih kencang, mensinyalir rasa was-was yang mulai unjuk gigi.

Hanya transit, Pak Cik”, aku memulai percakapan dengan petugas imigrasi sembari menyerahkan passport dan e-ticket Uzbekistan Airways kepadanya.

Oooohhh…Transit, nak kemane?”, dia bertanya dengan wajah dingin.

Tashkent, Pak Cik”, jawabku mantap demi memamerkan kepercayaan diri

Oh, sendiri keh….Ada apa disane?”, dia mulai melunak

Peninggalan sejarah Islam, Pak Cik….Ada makam Imam Bukhori di sana, Pak Cik”, aku mulai memamaerkan pesona Uzbekistan yang aku sendiri belum pernah melihatnya.

Oh, ya….Perlu wang berape kesane?”, pertanyaannya mulai menggelitik

Aku berpikir sejenak untu merubah kurs Rupiah ke Ringgit

4.000 sampai 5.000 Ringgit, Pak Cik”, aku masih menatap langit-lagit bandara demi menghitung angka.

Oooooo….Banyaknyeeee”, petugas itu manggut-manggut.

Usai melakukan prosedur pengambilan sidik jari, petugas imigrasi itu mempersilahkan aku keluar dari konter imigrasi.

Aku merasakan bahagia tak terkira ketika bisa memasuki wilayah negara Malaysia tanpa hambatan yang berarti. Satu awalan baik yang mampu memberikan peneguhan hati bahwa dunia ini sudah baik-baik saja.

Melewati bagian akhir pemeriksaan barang, aku sempat menunjuk ke backpack yang kupanggul ketika menatap wajah petugas Aviation Security yang bertugas di screening gate yang terletak di satu area sebelum exit gate.

Dia mengangguk sebagai pertanda aku harus memasukkan backpack di screening gate.

Melaluinya dengan mudah, aku pun melewati exit gate dan memasuki area Gateway@KLIA2.

Oh, Welcome again Kuala Lumpur….

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Air Asia QZ 206 Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur: Menolong Wanita Paruh Baya

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Usai menunaikan ibadah shalat dengan menjamak Maghrib dan Isya di sebuah mushola milik Terminal 3 Existing, aku menuju Gate 3 dan memutuskan untuk menunggu penerbangan di salah satu bangku sembari mengisi daya telepon pintarku.

A, ini tujuan Kuala Lumpur, ya?”, seorang perempuan paruh baya tetiba bertanya dan duduk di sebelahku.

Iya, Ibu….Boleh lihat tiket Ibu?”, aku menyidik ingin tahu. “QZ 206….Iya Ibu ini benar ke KL”.

Oh berarti saya ga nyasar ya, A?…Ini pertama kali saya akan bekerja di Brunei”, dia bercerita dengan sendirinya.

 “Loh, Ibu transit?”, aku terhenyak

Iya….Nanti di KL saya harus bagaimana ya, A?”, dia menunjukkan kecemasan.

Ga usah khawatir, Ibu, nanti ibu masuk ke tranfer hall saja di Kuala Lumpur, nanti saya tunjukkan, bu”, aku menenangkan.

Aa juga ke ruangan transit ya?”, dia kembali bertanya tentang rencanaku.

Saya memang transit Ibu, tapi saya mau keluar imigrasi dahulu karena penerbangan saya berikutnya berangkat dari Terminal 1, sedangkan kita akan turum di Terminal 2, Bu”, aku menjelaskan dengan cara yang mudah dipahami.

Oh begitu ya, A”, wajah ibu tersebut masih meyimpan kecemasan.

Lama bercakap-cakap, akhirnya panggilan untuk boarding benar-benar tiba. Mengantrilah aku di depan Gate 3 sembari menjaga ibu tersebut yang kuminta mengantri di depanku.

Beberapa saat kemudian aku tiba juga di kabin pesawat. Aku merangsek ke dalam demi mencari bangku bernomor 3B. Aku duduk di bangku tengah dan diapit oleh dua penumpang pria berkewarganegaraan Malaysia.

Duduk di barisan depan membuatku bisa memperhatikan awak kabin mempersiapkan segala sesuatu di cabin kitchen. Aku sesekali mengarahkan pandangan ke beberapa wajah para pramugari yang memamerkan face painting, mereka tampak lebih cantik dan elegan.

Pemandangan apron Terminal 3 Soetta.
Memasuki pintu kabin Air Asia QZ 206.
Sistem acak pemilihan free seat membuatku duduk ke baris depan….Nikmati saja lah ya.

Di sisi lain, sesaat aku merasa terharu karena malam itulah pertama kalinya, aku menaiki pesawat menuju ke luar negeri setelah sekian lama dunia dihantam badai pandemi COVID-19. Sedangkan rasa lain yang tersimpan di hati adalah kekhawatiran tentang keberadaanku di Kuala Lumpur International Airport jika pesawat sudah mendarat beberapa waktu kemudian.

Pertanyaan-pertanyaan dalam hati mulai muncul….Apakah aku akan mendapatkan masalah terkait dengan pembatasan mobilitas di sana, apakah ada hambatan lain terkait prosedur kesehatan, atau kekhawatiran lain yang merupakan akumulasi dari overthinkingku sendiri.

Aku berusaha melawan semua rasa itu selama penerbangan….Perlahan aku harus mengumpulkan keberanian demi perjalanan panjangku yang sudah ada di depan mata.

Malam itu perjalanan menuju Kuala Lumpur berlangsung mulus tanpa turbulensi berarti. Airbus A320-200 menembus langit malam selama dua jam lebih tanpa hambatan berarti.

Mendekati titik akhir penerbangan….

Hatiku berdebar ketika sang pilot menyampaikan perintah kepada awak kabin untuk bersiap melakukan pendaratan.

Saatnya untuk memulai petualangan lagi di negeri orang”, aku menguatkan hati.

Sesaat kemudian….

Bunyi khas ketika roda raksasa dikeluarkan dari badan pesawat mulai terdengar, goyangan kecil kiri-kanan untuk menyeimbangkan badan pesawat mulai terasa dan akhirnya hentakan roda di landas pacu terdengar, pesawat sudah berada di runway Kuala Lumpur Internatioanal Airport Terminal 2 dan berlanjut melakukan taxiing demi menghantikan pesawat di salah satu sisi apron.

Sejenak aku mengintip ke jendela pesawat dan memperhatikan lekuk-lekuk indah bangunan bandara yang sudah lama sekali tidak kukunjungi.

Aku merindukan pemandangan ini setelah terjeda tiga tahun lamanya.
KLIA2….You are so beautiful.

Tetapi kemudian aku teringat sesuatu….aku reflek menoleh….menengok dua bangku ke belakang….Ya, Ibu paruh baya itu….Aku harus menolongnya…..

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

KL Tower: The Second Visitation

<—-Previous Story

Breakfast in the front of the store….Just enjoy..

Tuesday….After Dawn….

Eyes were still haggard…My body felt weak.

All night my sleep was interrupted by the snoring of a guest who was fast asleep to the right of my bed. Not only myself, but I could also feel the protests of a guest who slept right under a snoring guest’s bunk bed. Over and over again I could feel him hitting the bottom of the bunk bed where a snoring guest was sleeping. Maybe he felt the same way. Upset….Because he couldn’t sleep well.

Feeling unwell, I decided to just wash my body under the hot shower in the shared bathroom. A splash of warm water could at least relax every inch of my body which wasn’t one hundred percent fresh that morning.

That morning, I had to pack all the equipment back into my backpack and then leave it at the reception desk. My stay ended at noon and at that time, I was still downtown.

After taking a shower and tidying up my backpack, I headed to the reception to check out, returned the locker key, and took the deposit. Luckily, the reception staff from Egypt was already at his desk making it easier for me to speed up the process because I had to catch the Go KL City Bus departure as early as possible.

My backpack had been neatly stored and I rushed down the stairs to get out of the inn. Once outside, I immediately looked for a seat on the terrace of shops that were still closed for breakfast. Breakfast this time was still the same as last night’s dinner menu….Yup, I could still rely on oat powder. To be honest, I already ran out of Ringgit that morning, I only had Ringgit left to take the airport bus this afternoon and have a modest dinner at KLIA2.

From this, it could be concluded that I would go around the city without spending even the slightest bit of money….Yes, I would never spend it.

Luckily, the streets were still quiet. This situation certainly reduced the burden of embarrassment when I had to sip spoon after spoonful of oat powder wet with a splash of mineral water.

Thank God breakfast was over….The adventure began.

I headed to the Pasar Seni Bus Hub to look for the Go KL City Bus Purple Line. The free purple line bus would take me to the KL Tower complex.

KL Tower is a telecommunication transmitter tower, broadcasting tower, altitude culinary tour, and city viewpoint from above.

From a distance, I saw clearly that the bus was already in position. So as soon as I arrived at the platform, I just got on it from the front door. Only a few passengers were already occupying the seats. This was what makes me have to wait about ten minutes….At least to fill the empty seats with passengers who were slowly arriving.

At eight in the morning, the Go KL City Bus Purple Line finally departed….

While sitting, I thought that KL Tower was a tall building, so I just relaxed. Of course, I only needed to stop at any bus stop near the KL Tower building which would be visible from a distance because it was so high.

The Go KL City Bus slowly ran in Sultan Street to leave the Pasar Seni area. As soon as I arrive along Raja Chulan Street, KL Tower was visible from the bus window. I just needed to make sure when to get off at the nearest bus stop. Several times the Go KL City Bus stopped at the bus stop, but I still couldn’t get off. I still hoped that the bus would stop at a shelter that was closer to KL Tower.

That was the bus with free service.
The interior was nice and clean of course.

There was an exception, instead of getting closer, the Go KL City Bus was getting farther and farther away from KL Tower. “Ahhhh, damn….I’d gone too far and instead of slowing down the bus was getting faster and faster”, I leaned against the bus window. Due to that stupidity, I just gave up following where the Go KL City Bus went. I decided to return to the Pasar Seni and repeated the journey from scratch….Too bad.

After 40 minutes of travel, the Go KL City Bus finally arrived at Pasar Seni.

“Ridiculous….”, I cursed myself.

Now I got off the Go KL City Bus and moved to the bus in the front which was ready to depart. Luckily for me, the Go KL City Bus left immediately when a few seconds earlier I stepped inside.

Now I put on a wary attitude when sitting on one of its seats. I would decide to just get off when I saw that KL Tower could reach within walking distance.

That moment has arrived….

The bus stopped at a bus stop and I jumped down from the middle door.

“THE WELD….”, I read the signboard on a skyscraper that stood right behind the bus stop where I got off.

Now I was on Raja Chulan Street and THE WELD itself is a 26-story office complex located 800 meters east of KL Tower.

From THE WELD, I cut off P. Ramlee street to then took fifty steps into a smaller street, Puncak Street. This was the main road to get to the KL Tower which was built on higher ground.

Panting for a quarter of an hour, finally I arrived at the courtyard of KL Tower. Back in 2014, I had the opportunity to cross this tower when I tried the KL Hop On Hop Off to get around the city. Only, at that time I went down for less than five minutes to see it. This was all because KL Hop On Hop Off rushed to explore the city.

THE WELD….Besides offices, there is also a modern supermarket.
Taking the Peak Road.

That time I would be a little longer in enjoying the charm of this communication tower that wasn’t less than a quarter of a century old. How could I not be happy, when I finally had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a tower whose height was included in the ranks of the ten tallest towers in the world?

The uniqueness that could be seen for the first time was the roof of the basic building which used a series of tapering patterns. My mind then referred to the roof of the Sydney Opera House. Meanwhile, at the upper end between the mast and the antenna, there was a round building that was the center of broadcasting, telecommunication, restaurant, observation deck, and sky deck activities.

As far as I knew, to enjoy the observation deck, visitors must pay 49 Ringgit….While the sky deck tour price reached 99 Ringgit….Woouuooww.

I stepped towards the KL Tower entrance gate to see the activity there up close. Of course, I won’t go up to the top for a tour, it’s too expensive for a visitor like me who just stopped by in Kuala Lumpur.

It wasn’t that crowded, so far only a few European tourists decided to buy tickets and went up to the top of the tower, while I just watched the remnants of the programming competition that was held the day before yesterday. The competition was titled HR Hackathon.

Shifting to the right of the tower, there was another attraction. On that side stood a ticket sales counter for visiting the KL Tower Mini Zoo (KLTMZ). Existing information boards said that KLTMZ contains no less than fifty native and exotic species. And to see these unique species, visitors needed to spend up to 30 Ringgit.

Move again towards the front of the tower. There was a KL Tower F1 Zone which provided a Formula One simulator for the public. Visitors could feel the sensation of driving the land jet by paying 20 Ringgit for six minutes of driving in the simulator. The walls of the KL Tower F1 Zone were bright red, in harmony with the colors of one of the leading racing teams in Formula One’s premier racing event. It’s just that, when I visited KL Tower, the KL Tower F1 Zone was still closed. Maybe I arrived too early.

Oh yes, the KL Tower F1 Zone was also equipped with a Formula One Cafe & Mart…

But just looking at the cafe & mini market from outside for a moment, I saw the arrival of the white KL Hop On Hop Off with the upper deck partly open. Suddenly I ran towards it, it’s been six years since I’ve ever met up close with that tour bus. It turned out that in the courtyard of the tower, there was a KL Hop On Hop Off shelter. No wonder the tour bus stopped to drop off the tourists.

The Entrance gate of KL Tower .
The Ticketing Counter of KL Tower Mini Zoo.
KL Tower F1 Zone.
It was at this spot that I took some pictures of tourists from Surabaya.
Foreign tourists often called it the KL Forest Eco Park.

It didn’t take long to stop, dropping only 5 tourists, the bus stepped on its gas pedal again. But not long after, there was a familiar accent when the five female tourists were talking to each other after getting off the bus. “That’s the Surabaya accent….”, I concluded. I decided to say hello and spoke for a while. I hadn’t met Indonesians for four days, so there was nothing wrong with speaking for a moment. Because of that incident, I knew that the five were female workers who were traveling to Kuala Lumpur. From our conversation too, I knew that they were working in Penang.s

As usual, Indonesians always have their characteristics. They finally asked me to take a photo with the KL Tower as a background.

I? ….Yes, of course, I also asked to be photographed….I was originally from Indonesia….The Republic of Indonesia exactly…Hahaha

I was at the end of a visit to KL Tower. To close this short visit, I entered the front half area of KL Jungle Eco Park. Formerly known as the Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas, it was one of Malaysia’s oldest permanent forest reserves. To enter this forest reserve visitors must be willing to spend 40 Ringgit.

After my adventure at KL Tower.

It was time to leave it.

Next Story—->

Hot Burger in Kuala Lumpur International Airport

<—-Previous Story

Arrived at International Concourse.

The time marker showed half past eleven when Malaysia Airlines MH 724 landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. I took a deep breath when the plane was perfectly parked in the apron, it was because the connecting flight Malaysia Airlines MH 1326 would only fly to Kuala Terengganu on 07:25 hours next day. That means, for the next nine hours I had to spend all night at KLIA.

Overnight at KLIA2….Have you ever?….Yes, I was twelve times already, I tasted the “hard mattress” of KLIA Terminal 2

 Overnight at KLIA?….Have you ever?….Nup, this was my first time staying at KLIA Terminal 1.

While walking in arrival hall, I took a boarding pass which I got from Soetta airport’s check-in desk. After I looked at it, the boarding pass I was holding didn’t show the gate number. Therefore, I tried to find flight status information in Flight Information Display System (FIDS) located at arrival hall….Finally, I got the gate number….Yupz,A5.

So that was…. There was already a gate status.

So that tomorrow morning I won’t have to find the gate, I also intend to rehearse to find a way to the gate in question. From the International Concourse at level 4, I went down one level to Domestic Concourse. Please note that domestic flights at KLIA are flown from gate A and gate B, while international flights are flown from gate C, gate G and gate H.

My rehearsal was forced to end in front of the immigration counter, but at least I understood how I had to go to the gate tomorrow morning.

Domestic Concourse atmosphere.

From in front of the immigration counter, I was forced to climb back up to International Concourse to find a place to close my eyes.

Meanwhile, a few minutes into the middle of night, I was sitting on one of International Concourse’s seats when a couple of middle-aged tourists approached and took the empty seat to my left.

“Helloo, Sir, where are you come from?”, I ventured to say hello.

“Hi, I’m from Algeria”.

“Oh I know, it’s a country in north of Africa”, I tried to make the conversation warmer.

“Ohhhh….yeaaa….yeaaaa, you know that. I will go home tomorrow and will transit in Doha”, he started to tell about their travel plans.

“Oh, Doha will be the last destination in my traveling this time”, I started to relate my trip to their trip so that the conversation would be more intense.

“Oh, good. What is your traveling for?….Business?”

“Oh, no. it’s just for tourism. I’m Donny from Indonesia and Oh yeaaa, what is your name, sir?”

“Oh, I’m Younes and she is my wife”

“Hi, Donny, nice to meet you”, Mr. Younes’ wife also greeted me

“Hi, Madam. Nice to meet you too”

“Donny, let’s we have dinner together!” Mr. Younes took out four burgers from a paper bag that his wife had brought with him.

“Thank you, Sir. I had dinner since from Jakarta”, I gently refused.

“No No No…. It’s different, It’s to accompany us while talking about our traveling”, he forced me to accept a piece of burger that was still warm.

As a result the three of us were talking to each other while enjoying a burger together. And when we finished eating the simple dish, they said goodbye to go to the gate.

But…..Before the two of them left their seats, Mr. Younes’s wife handed me one last burger.

“It’s for you, Donny. Just take it, we are moslems, we are family”

“It’s really, I think you need it more in your journey, Mam”, I subtly declined.

“No, Donny, It’s for you”, she came closer sticking the burger in front of me

“Thank you, Mam. Allah is always with you”, finally I couldn’t resist it.

“Amen, Good night, Donny, Assalamu’alaikum”.

“Wa’alaikumsalam”

Very pleasant meeting in the early hours of that morning. I put the warm burger in my backpack. I’d better save it for breakfast tomorrow.

After the meeting, I decided to change places to find a row of empty seats to sleep while straightening my body so I could close my eyes comfortably.

Come on….Found a place to sleep.

Next Story—->

Nine Hours Stopover in Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2

<—-Previous Story

Landing at KLIA2.

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.

Subscribed restaurant.

(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—->

Air Asia D7 505 from Seoul to Kuala Lumpur

<—-Previous Story

D7 505 flight path (source: flightaware.com)

I sat at one of seats near gate 112 belonging to Satellite Concourse Building Incheon International Airport after a few minutes before being transferred by shuttle train from Terminal 1. Boarding time was only half an hour away, so I couldn’t take the risk to explore the entire airport terminal building.

I prefered to watch airplanes fly by. Some of them seemed to focus in landing their wheels at airport’s runway and others seemed to be queuing up to get permission from Air Traffic Controller (ATC) to fly. I often did this habit because of my interest in aircraft and aviation industry. From this habit of observing, it wasn’t uncommon for me to find the names of new airlines which in the future I usually targeted them to enjoy their services in traveling around world.

For me, that day was very special in my travel history, because Air Asia D7 505 would be my first trip using a large aircraft. If in previous flights I had always ridden a small aircraft, such as an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, but that time I would ride an Airbus A330 with 9 columns of seats…. That afternoon really created curiosity and impatience.

Half an hour later, the gate actually opened. I started to take a position in the right column of queue.

“Just give duty free shopping to mom, let mom hold it,” a male passenger shouted in Indonesian language to his son who was carrying two large bottles of alcoholic drinks. Hearing the language of my nation while in another country was indeed a special gift that could help raise the mood to always feel close to home. That time at my left was an Indonesian citizens of Chinese descent who also seemed to be on their way home.

“Which city are you come from, Sir?”, I ventured to ask.

“Oh, you’re from Indonesia too? I’m from Bekasi, Sir.”

“Oh, I’m from East Jakarta, Sir”.

“Oh, our home are close. What kind of business do you do, Sir in Jakarta?”

“I just work in a company, sir, in Jakarta. Not doing business”

“Oh, is that so, are you alone, Sir?”

“Yes, Sir”

“Wow cool….cool…”

Our conversation didn’t last long because our meeting had to end when a ground staff checked our tickets and passports. After that we were separated in a long aerobridge.

At the end of aerobridge, I was greeted by a Malay-looking flight attendant at plane door and I was directed to turn towards front cabin. According to my boarding pass, I looked for seat numbered 14K which turned out to be positioned in  right side of window seat. That was the seat which I had to enjoy during the long flight later.

Oh yes, my flight number that time was D7 505. Do you want to know the meaning of code?….

If QZ was the flight code operated by Indonesia Air Asia and AK was the flight code for Air Asia Malaysia, then D7 was the flight code belonging to Air Asia X specifically for long-haul flights.

D7 505 itself was a flight of 5,000 kilometers with a travel time of 5 hours 50 minutes. The flight started from Incheon International Airport, South Korea and would end at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2, Malaysia.

Hmmm…..During the flight….

Turns out, the window seat I was in was uncomfortable because the curve of airplane cabin limited my comfort during the flight. While flying in economy class, I could only pass the time by flipping through Travel 360, which was Air Asia’s inflight magazine. When my eyes get tired of reading, then I continued to spend time with closing my eyes. Luckily, the packaged almonds I bought at Namdaemun Market a day before made my flight a little less boring.

Half of the flights in light conditions allowed me to freely enjoy the views of Yellow Sea and East China Sea, while the rest of the flights continued in complete darkness where I couldn’t do much. Until finally the plane arrived in Kuala Lumpur around ten at night.

After the flight, I still had to go through the last leg of my journey to explore East Asia by staying for 9 hours at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 before returning to my homeland on the next day using Air Asia AK 382 connecting flight.

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

Next Story—->

Menuju KLIA2 dari KL Sentral

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Akan sedikit lebih lama menempuh jalur gratis menuju penginapan dibandingkan menunggangi LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya. Tetapi demi menebus ketiadaan Ringgit, aku memutuskan untuk mengeteng saja dan memanfaatkan jasa Go KL City Bus.

Bergegas meninggalkan KLCC Park, aku melangkah menuju halte bus KLCC yang terletak tepat di depan Suria KLCC. Tiba di bawah naungan halte, deretan armada “Perkhidmatan Bas Percuma*1)” jalur hijau  telah menunggu para penumpangnya.

Aku menunggangnya untuk menggapai titik pertukaran antar jalur, yaitu halte bus Pavilion. Dari situlah aku akan menangkap Go KL City Bus jalur ungu demi menggapai Pasar Seni Bus Hub, halte bus terdekat dari penginapanku, yaitu The Bed Station.

—-****—-

Mengendap-endap curang, aku menaiki tangga The Bed Station dengan penuh harap tak terpergok resepsionis ketika melintas di depan pintunya. Itu karena aku sudah men-check out masa inapku tadi pagi, tetapi kali ini, aku memaksakan diri untuk mandi di kamar mandi bersama lantai 3.

Aku sukses melewati ruang resepsionis di lantai 2, sekelebat kulihat staff resepsionis itu sedang sibuk melayani tamu-tamu penginapan yang tampak berdatangan, memang aku tiba ketika masa-masa check-in telah dibuka.

Bergerak cepat, aku segera mandi untuk meluruhkan segenap keringat setelah sedari pagi tadi berkeliling kota.

Begitu selesai berbasuh, aku segera turun ke meja reception untuk mengambil backpack yang telah kuititipkan sedari pagi.

Penuhnya antrian di meja resepsionis membuatku tak terlihat ketika baru turun dari lantai atas yang sebetulnya sudah bukan menjadi hak bagiku untuk menaikinya lagi, apalagi untuk beraktivitas apapun di lantai itu….Dasar, Donny.

—-****—-

Berhasil mendapatkan backpack, aku bergegas melangkah menuju Stasiun LRT Pasar Seni yang berjarak hanya 200 meter dari penginapan.

Begitu tiba, aku bergegas menuju automatic vending machine untuk bertukar 1,3 Ringgit dengan token bulat berwarna biru. Token itulah yang akan menggaransiku untuk bisa berpindah menuju KL Sentral.

LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya bergerbong empat tiba menjemputku di platform lantai dua, untuk kemudian aku larut dalam putaran roda kereta menuju KL Sentral yang jaraknya tak berselang satu stasiun pun.

Dalam 15 menit,  aku tiba di KL Sentral….

Menuruni escalator aku tiba di lantai satu dan tanpa berfikir panjang segera bergegas menuju basement level. Aku punya satu keuntungan bahwa segenap denah KL Sentral telah kuhafal di luar kepala, setidaknya sudah tujuh kali aku menyambangi transportation hub kenamaan Negeri Jiran tersebut. Hal itulah yang membuatku dengan mudah menggapai konter penjualan tiket Aerobus.

Aerobus adalah transportasi dari KL Sentral ke Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) yang menawarkan perjalan murah jika dibandingkan menggunakan taksi, kereta KLIA Transit ataupun KLIA Ekspres.

Aku menyerahkan 12 Ringgit untuk mendapatkan selembar tiket menuju bandara.

—-****—-

Seperempat jam lewat dari pukul empat sore….

Setelah menempuh perjalanan 45 menit, aku tiba di lantai 1 Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. Aku diturunkan di salah satu platform di transportation hub di Gateway@klia2..

Walaupun penerbanganku akan berlangsung pukul sembilan malam, hal itu tak menyurutkan langkahku untuk segera menuju lantai 3 untuk melihat informasi penerbangan lebih detail. Seperti biasa, aku selalu detail dan strict perihal jadwal terbang, setidaknya sore itu aku harus mengetahui di check-in desk nomor berapa aku akan menukar e-ticket dengan boarding pass serta di gate berapa pesawatku akan di lepas.

Senyum tipis tak bisa kusembunyikan dari bibir ketika aku berhasil mendapatkan informasi itu di LCD raksasa lantai 3.

Jam 17:20, ternyata….”, aku membatin ketika mengetahui kapan check-in desk akan dibuka.

Aku memutuskan untuk melakukan shalat jamak takhir di surau lantai 2 dan tentu berencana mencari makan malam setelahnya.

Tak seperti biasanya ketika aku mencari makan di KLIA2. Sore itu restoran langganan yang menyajikan makanan murah khas India sedang tutup. Adalah NZ Curry House yang lokasinya tertutp oleh papan-papan renovasi..

Tapi aku tak ambil pusing….

Pada 2015, aku pernah makan di sebuah food court yang berlokasi di lantai 2M. Aku sedikit lupa posisi food court itu. Tapi aku berniat mencarinya hingga ketemu. Ada restoran ala padang yang menawarkan makanan murah di food court tersebut.

Itu dia….”, aku bersorak dalam hati ketika melihat food court itu dari kejauhan.

Quizinn by RASA….”, aku melafal nama medan selera*2) tersebut.

Restoran Padang Kota Group….”, yupzzz aku melihat restoran yang kucari.

Kiranya tak bisa berlama-lama, aku menuju restoran ala padang itu kemudian mencari menu sesuai dengan kondisi dompet. Inilah saat dimana Ringgitku akan habis.

Lima belas menit sebelum check-in akhirnya aku bisa menikmati seporsi nasi seharga 5,9 Ringgit. Inilah nasi yang kumakan setelah terakhir aku memakannya kemarin siang.

Lantai 2 Gateway@klia2.
Pemandangan dari Gateway@klia2 Lantai 2M.
Beberapa restoran di Gateway@klia2.
Nah, itu dia Quizinn by RASA food court.
Menuku malam itu: Nasi putih, telur rebus kandar dan sayuran.

Mengambil sebuah tempat duduk, aku menikmati makan malam itu dengan khusyu’ untuk kemudian bersiap diri melakukan penerbangan lagi.

Apakah aku akan pulang?….

Tidak….Justru petualangan sesungguhnya baru akan dimulai.

Aku akan terbang menuju sebuah kota di selatan India….KOCHI.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Keterangan kata:

Perkhidmatan Bas Percuma*1 = Layanan Bus Gratis

Medan Selera*1) = food court.