Peach Aviation MM6320

Overnight at Kansai International Airport (KIX)

29 April 202223 April 2022travelingpersecond

Arriving at Kansai International Airport (KIX), Osaka.

I descended Peach Aviation with flight number MM6320 via manual ladder. Then I was taken using Narita apron shuttle bus to Terminal 2 building. Finally, I arrived in Osaka and stepped onto airport which had won “The Best Low Cost Airline Terminal in the World” in Skytrax version.

Since this was a domestic flight, of course I didn’t need to be busy dealing with immigration. I stepped on the floor of Terminal 2 building on exactly midnight. I think it would be better if I immediately looked for a place to close my eyes for next five hours. I also felt very tired because from the morning when I checked out until the afternoon I walked around Tokyo carrying a 6 kg backpack. The expensive transportation costs didn’t allow me to put my backpack in hotel first when exploring Tokyo. Because of course it costed a lot of money to just go back and forth to hotel just for taking a backpack in hotel when you want to leave Tokyo. As a result, I had to carry my backpack wherever my feet went until I arrived in Osaka.

My instincts were very quick to find the best seat, I was now in an area on west side of Terminal 2 building which was quite. Four chairs without armrests made the perfect treat for that evening. Not thinking long, I immediately acquired one of them, made my backpack as a pillow and I quickly fell asleep on it.

Zzzzzz…..The remain, I didn’t know what was going on around.

—-****—-

Greekkk…..praakkk…..Buughhh…..Kraackkk.

I gasped and suddenly woke up. Sitting with a headache, I saw clearly a group of tall and beautiful Chinese girls were already sitting in front of me. Two of them noticed me who was in a disheveled condition, then smiled. It was impossible for me to continue sleeping in front of them. Looked like they just landed and out of nowhere.

The clock needle was still perched at number four. That means I’ve slept even four hours. I drank the remaining mineral water. And in an instant, that girls were busy with their respective devices.

I immediately took out my toiletries pack and put my thick jacket into my backpack. I immediately went to the toilet. Entering the airport toilet in the morning was a strategy to enjoy clean toilets because usually the cleaning service just finished cleaning it and no one had used it yet.

Sure enough, I was the first to enter the toilet that morning. Extraordinarily clean, regarding to the cleanliness of public facilities in Japan, no need to ask, they are the experts. That morning, for real, for the first time I used a toilet with a full of button control panel . I put my backpack on clean toilet floor and started my morning activities in it. I guessed, I was too long because of the preoccupation with trying to operate all kinds of button next to the toilet. I pressed no less than ten types of button, from the flushing/sound button to the warm seat button. Not hard, almost 40 minutes I mastered the toilet.

Oh, Donny….All the way to Japan just to try the toilet….Damn

After brushing my teeth in front of the sink. I started to prepare myself to head to the city. I immediately looked for the whereabouts of train station. Following an instructions, I was directed to a free shuttle bus to transfer to Terminal 1, because train to downtown was there.

I boarded to free shuttle bus. Traveling a distance of about 2 km and less than ten minutes I arrived at Terminal 1 at exactly six in the morning. I started hunting for train tickets.

“Which train must I take to get the cheapest price to Shin-Imamiya Station, Ms?”, I asked to female clerk sitting at ticket sales desk.

“JR Kansai Airport Rapid for 1,060 Yen, Sir”

“Okay, I take that”

Not long after, JR Kansai Airport Rapid Train arrived. I immediately entered one of its carriages which was dominantly silver with a blue color, then sat on one of its single seats. Less than five minutes, the train departed. That’s how Japanese trains awere, never late and always on time.

15 minutes later…..

I was so surprised that its carriage passed through a giant iron bridge which straddled the sea. All my life, I just found out that Kansai International Airport (KIX) is located in the middle of the sea, 5 Km from the nearest mainland in Osaka city. Wasn’t this a wonderful experience?……

Peach Aviation MM6320 from Tokyo to Osaka: 15th Airline

27 April 202223 April 2022travelingpersecond

My departure time for East Asia Tour Volume-2 was only a day away. There was still one stage of my itinerary which was still scattered and unfinished, i.e the deadlock of my transfer mechanism from Tokyo to Osaka. Three months ago, I wasted a cheap bus ticket from Tokyo to Osaka for 5,700 Yen just because I kept thinking and looking for other options. Some time later when the weekend came, the price of bus fare increased to 9,700 Yen. While the Shinkansen ticket price reached 14,000 Yen.

It mean that apart from the bus, the Shinkansen was also impossible for me to choose. The bullet train was too expensive for my pocket. Inevitably, I have to go back to rummaging through information about Japanese transportation.

I started tracking how many commercial airlines which Land of Rising Sun owned. Previously, I had booked one of their airlines to move from Kaohsiung (Taiwan) to Tokyo, that airline was Vanilla Air. But this airline in fact set a fairly expensive price for Tokyo to Osaka route, around 10,130 Yen.

From my persistence in exploring cyberspace, my mouse touch found another LCC (Low Cost Carrier) airline belonging to Japan, namely Peach Aviation. The airline’s attributes rely on a combination of orange and pink colors, forming a pale orange color known as peach. I started looking for a route. Finally I found Tokyo-Osaka route for 7,150 Yen, a slightly cheaper price than taking the bus, Shinkansen or Vanilla Air.

—-****—-

Preparing for take-off with Peach Aviation MM6320.

The incident of delay and accidentally drinking alcohol became a bad memory before I left Tokyo. However, I started to smile when my flight number was mentioned in airport announcement. I started queuing in line. I began to imagine the beauty of Osaka Castle in every second of my queue. Until I arrived, my boarding pass and passport were checked by a female ground staff who was very young.

“I’m sorry, this is not your flight. Your flight will be depart 30 minutes later”.

“Are you sure?”, I half asked.

“Yes, sir. This flight is MM320 and your flight is MM6320, almost similar”.

“Oh God, I’m sorry. This is my wrong”, I slapped my forehead while trying to hide my embarrassment.

I stepped back from the queue and sat in one of empty rows of seats that had been left by prospective passengers to enter the plane. I was still watching the queue until the last person entered the plane. Now I was back waiting….

30 minutes later…..

Unmistakably, this was my flight, I made sure flight number information on the LCD screen was correct, then I matched it with the same number in my boarding pass….Yup, this was MM6320. I immediately entered the queue. Then at the queue gate, I gave my boarding pass and passport to be checked by one of ground staff. Finally, I was allowed to enter the plane.

The cabin dominance with a peach color made the room so cheerful, slightly reducing my fatigue in struggling with delays. Every cabin crew was so quick to help passengers put their luggage into luggage compartment. Several times, a flight attendant didn’t hesitate to take off her shoes and stood into a chair edge to push some large luggage and tidy it up in luggage compartment.

After preparation, Peach Aviation MM6320 began to crawl towards runway accompanied by a demonstration of flight safety procedures by cabin crew. Moments later the flight captain asked for permission to take off. Shortly after, the Airbus A320-100 sped away from Narita International Airport from Terminal 1.

The sky in Tokyo seemed to be clear that night. I didn’t feel any turbulence during 1 hour 35 minute flight. Osaka is Japan’s third largest city, 500 km in west of Tokyo. Throughout flight, most passengers prefered to close their eyes, but I still turned on the reading light because I was interested in the abundance of tourism information which contained in Peach Aviation’s inflight magazine. I took pictures one by one of that tourist information sheets, I needed it while in Osaka. Apparently my activity was noticed by a flight attendant from behind. Even at one time she came to me.

“Do you still reading, Sir?” .

“Yes, Ms. I need some information from this magazine”.

“Oh ok, Sir. It doesn’t matter. I just make sure”.

She smiled and sat back in her flight attendant’s seat at back. Even after that, I made sure that throughout the flight I never turned off the reading light. On 23:53 hours, flight captain started talking into his microphone to simply announce that the plane would soon be landing at Kansai International Airport Terminal 2. All passengers rushed up, got ready and tidied up every seat. The cabin crew continued to check back and forth according to safety procedures for landing process.

I still didn’t know about actual conditions down there because I was sitting in aisle seat. I was able to feel when the plane began to lower and occasionally rocked to stabilize its position. Until finally the smooth pounding of plane’s wheels informed me that Peach Aviation had touched the runway of Kansai International Airport, in Terminal 2 to be exact.

There was no welcoming aerobridge, all passengers must descend the stairs and be picked up by Narita apron shuttle bus to the terminal building.

Arriving at Kansai International Airport Terminal 2 on midnight.

That night, I decided to spend the night at Kansai International Airport Terminal 2 and would leave for downtown on the next day.

Alternatives for airline tickets from Tokyo to Osaka can be found on 12Go or the following link: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

Narita International Airport Terminal 1: Alcohol….Oh, Alcohol

25 April 202225 April 2022travelingpersecond

Narita International Airport Terminal 1 entrance

Paying 1,000 Yen to the driver with tie, receiving a receipt, ending with taking a back seat, I was now ready to explore the Higashi Kanto Expressway. This was the same street I passed by for the first time after arriving in Tokyo a few days ago.

Taking 70 kilometer asphalt road and within an hour, I felt asleep along the two prefectures passed by JR Kanto Bus, namely Tokyo and Chiba. I woke up when the bus had arrived at Narita International Airport and stopped for a while at Terminal 2 to dropping off some of its passengers. Now I was stricken with worries when the bus had passed Terminal 1. But I was trying to stay calm and go with the flow of bus.

I was lucky when I saw Terminal 1 nameboard far ahead. Yups, it turned out that my stop point hadn’t been missed.

On 4:41 p.m., I was dropped off at the drop-off zone by JR Kanto Bus driver, then rushed into one of Narita’s entrances. I was increasingly confident with the presence of Peach Aviation logo on logos board of airline which operating in Terminal 1.

“I’m at the right terminal”, I cheerfully thought.

But another challenge came, I was still five hours away from scheduled departure. The self-check-in counter hadn’t let me print my boarding pass yet.

“Okay, I would just wait”, I patient myself.

Two and a half hours of waiting at a departure hall seat, I finally managed to do self-check-in process on 19:25 hours. I grabbed a boarding pass and steadily stepped towards the gate. Upon arrival, it turned out that the gate was still not ready.

World Sky Gate_Narita as the new branding of Narita International Airport.

Narita International Airport Terminal 1 floor plan.

Until finally, I decided to look for a minimarket to hunt for dinner. I found Lawson in one of the corridors and entered without a second thought. I quickly took a pack of onigiri for 248 yen and the cheapest mineral water for 103 yen and took it to the cashier.

After paying, I continued to walk to the observation deck, then sat in one of its chairs to enjoy the plane traffic of various airlines which were busy going back and forth at Narita International Airport. The outdoor observation deck was blown by a cold winter wind that consistently chilled the body.

Even though it was uncomfortable because it was cold, I still tried to enjoy dinner, still sat on one of the observation deck benches and continued to be fascinated by the pair of take-off and landing activities of large planes.

I kept trying to show my best smile while chewing onigiri, not wanting to be outdone by happy expressions of passangers around me when they were enjoying restaurant foods with nice aroma which inhabited along the side of observation deck.

The last piece of onigiri was complete. I then opened my bottled mineral water. I opened its lid and without hesitation drank it like a thirsty person. A mouthful of water finally smoothly glided down in my throat. But my eyes bulged because my nose was stung by a foreign smell. A warm sensation enveloped along my throat. And finally, automatically, I profusely coughed.

Not pure mineral water!…A clear drink clearly contained alcohol in it. Finally I could feel the sensation of alcohol even though it was accidentally….I didn’t drink alcohol before.

I still didn’t want to throw away the alcoholic bottled water and put it in my backpack. If later it wasn’t confiscated at the screening gate, let it be a memory while in Osaka.

Finally, after enjoying the airport traffic, I immediately headed to the gate and prepared myself to fly. HHmmhh… As soon as I entered the gate, the delay information immediately approached. Out of curiosity, I directly asked the female ground staff about the validity of this delay. She confirmed that Peach Aviation flight number MM6320 did experience a delay in arriving at Narita and I would have to wait another hour later.

@Kids park, waiting for the plane to coming for pick me up.

I spent the next hour extra with closing my eyes in the waiting room. I sat next to Kids Park near Terminal 1 gate….

Writing Prayers and Wishes in Meiji Jingū

21 April 2022travelingpersecond

Get ready for second day of adventure in Tokyo @ Nakano Station platform.

The tragedy of losing my wallet at Nakano Station made me gulp in fear, it turned out that there was still a coward side behind my courage to explore the world. I calmed down for a moment by sipping drinking water from free water station at one of Nakano Station platforms.

The silver and yellow colored commuter of Chūō Line arrived, I took a step into a middle carriage and sat at long bench on left. I deliberately chose to sit right above a console grill heater. That was my habit while riding Japann’s trains which was slipping into the winter.

I continued to follow the Chūō Line towards east and then turned into south after changing to Yamanote Line at Shinjuku Station. Within twenty minutes, I arrived at Harajuku Station after traveling for about seven kilometers. I only had to pay 170 Yen for this trip.

Crossing the long corridor of Harajuku Station, I came out from West Exit directly opposite Meiji Jingū First Torii Gate on the right. But gosh……

Now that I’ve lost my right glove, how could I resist cold air if my equipment disappeared? I retraced my path when I exited the station platform and finally I found one of those gloves in the middle of corridor after automatic fare collection gates. I didn’t know why?, since this morning, I’ve been stuck losing things even though it were found again. Could this be the start of all surprising things ahead of my adventure?

Alright…Focused back to my steps…..

Now I was posing in front of Meiji Shrine gate. The Torii was so distinctive, the inspiration for a famous automotive company logo in “the Land of Samurai”. I walked through smooth gravel as the entrance to the temple. The path had a width of one meter on left side, combined with a one meter wide paving block path bordered by rope for exit route on the right. Meanwhile, in some parts, the path was bordered by bamboo fences which were neatly arranged as high as the waist of an adult.

In front of the gates of Meiji-jingumae Station “Harajuku” (Chiyoda Line) as part of Tokyo Metro Subway Network. But I didn’t take the Tokyo Metro.

Meanwhile, an old officer removed leaves from road using a backpack-leaf blower. Leaves just needed to be pushed aside to road side and allowed to become natural compost, so environmentally friendly.

Within four hundred meters, on the right, I was blown away by neat arrangement of kazaridaru dedicated to Meiji-tennō and Shōken-kōgō. While right on the left side was an arrangement of wine drums made of wood.

Arriving at the main Torii of shrine, every visitor must wash their hands at Temizuya with water using a long-stemmed dipper. This ritual of self-washing or misogi aimed to purify the body and mind before standing in front of a deity to pray.

Temizuya (shinto shrine pavilion for purification) in Meiji Jingū.

For a moment I stopped after passing through main gate, I was amazed by the size of the Meiji Jingū . This was a shrine dedicated to the spirit of Meiji-tennō , the ancient ruler of Japan.

Meanwhile in some parts of the temple was being renovated. Workers in white carpenter uniforms, complete with various carpentry equipments on their waists and wearing safety helmets, were seen standing on the step ladder, busy making repairs.

While at the end of the shrine, tourists could be seen queuing up at a shop which sells ema and omamori boards. The shop seemed to be guarded by beautiful women dressed in white and red kimonos, they looked polite and graceful to serve the visitors.

While I was busy writing a prayer on a piece of paper, then I put it in a box. While some tourists wrote prayers and hopes on the ema board they bought, then hang it on the spot provided.

Shops selling omamori were amulets that were believed by the Japanese to bring good luck and safety.

An ema board, a small wooden plaque decorated with handwritten art which expressed hope.

It didn’t feel like an hour and a half walked until I finally finished exploring all parts of the temple. This was my last destination in Tokyo, because I would soon be heading to Narita International Airport to catch Peach Aviation flight number MM6320 which would depart at 21:35 hours.

I finally decided to head straight to Harajuku Station and rushed to Tokyo Station, because I was planning to take JR Bus Kanto to the airport.

Let’s go……..

Get ready at Harajuku Station….To Tokyo Station.

Bermalam di Kansai International Airport (KIX)

25 December 20205 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Tiba di Kansai International Airport (KIX), Osaka.

Aku menuruni Peach Aviation bernomor terbang MM6320 melalui tangga manual. Kemudian dibawa menggunakan Narita apron shuttle bus menuju bangunan Terminal 2. Akhirnya, aku tiba di Osaka dan menapaki bandara yang pernah memenangi Best Low Cost Airline Terminal in the World versi Skytrax.

Karena ini adalah penerbangan domestik tentu aku tak perlu sibuk berurusan dengan pihak imigrasi. Aku menginjak lantai bangunan Terminal 2 tepat tengah malam. Kiranya akan lebih baik jika aku segera mencari tempat peraduan untuk memejamkan mata sejenak hingga 5 jam ke depan. Aku juga sudah merasa sangat letih karena sedari pagi saat check-out hingga sore berkeliling Tokyo dengan memanggul backpack seberat 6 Kg. Biaya transportasi yang mahal tak memungkinkanku untuk menaruh backpack di dormitory dahulu. Karena sudah barang tentu membutuhkan biaya yang tak sedikit untuk sekedar bolak-balik ke dormitory hanya untuk kegiatan remeh temeh, yaitu mengambil backpack saat ingin meninggalkan Tokyo. Alhasil, aku harus memanggul backpack kemanapun kaki melangkah higga aku tiba di Osaka.

Instingku sangat cepat untuk menemukan tempat tidur terbaik, aku kini berada di sebuah area di sisi barat bangunan Terminal 2 yang cukup tenang. Empat bangku gandeng tanpa sandaran lengan menjadi hadiah sempurna malam itu. Tak berfikir panjang, aku segera mengakuisisi salah satunya, menjadikan backpack sebagai bantal dan dengan cepat aku terlelap diatasnya.

Zzzzzz…..Selebihnya aku tak tahu apa yang terjadi di sekitar.

—-****—-

Greekkk…..praakkk…..Buughhh…..Kraackkk.

Aku tergelegap dan tersontak bangun. Dalam duduk dengan kepala pening, aku melihat jelas rombongan gadis-gadis tinggi cantik asal Tiongkok sudah duduk di depanku. Dua diantaranya memperhatikanku yang sedang dalam kondisi kusut, kemudian melempar senyum. Sudah tak mungkin aku melanjutkan tidur di depan mereka. Sepertinya mereka baru saja mendarat dan entah dari mana.

Jarum jam masih bertengger di angka empat. Berarti aku sudah terlelap genap empat jam. Aku menenggak air mineral tersisa. Dan dalam sekejap gadis-gadis itu sudah sibuk dengan gawainya masing-masing.

Kukeluarkan segera toiletries pack dan kumasukkan jaket tebalku ke dalam backpack. Aku segera beranjak menuju ke toilet. Masuk ke toilet bandara saat pagi adalah strategi untuk menikmati toilet bersih karena biasanya cleaning service baru usai membersihkannya dan belum ada yang menggunakan.

Benar saja, akulah orang pertama yang memasuki toilet pagi itu. Luar biasa bersih, perihal kebersihan fasilitas umum di Jepang, tidak usah ditanya, mereka jagonya. Pagi itu, sungguh nyata, untuk pertama kalinya aku menggunakan toilet dengan control panel penuh tombol. Aku menaruh backpack di lantai toilet yang bersih dan memulai aktivitas pagi di dalamya. Sepertinya aku kelamaan karena keasyikan mencoba mengoperasikan semua jenis tombol di sebelah kloset toilet. Tak kurang dari sepuluh jenis tombol aku memencet-mencetnya, mulai dari tombol penyamar suara (flushing/sound button) hingga penghangat kloset (warm seat button). Tak kerasa, hampir 40 menit aku menguasai toilet itu.

Oalah, Donny….Jauh-jauh ke Jepang cuman buat nyobain toilet….Kasihan……

Menggunakan free shuttle bus menuju Terminal 1.

Usai menggosok gigi di depan wastafel. Aku mulai mempersiapkan diri untuk menuju kota. Aku segera mencari keberadaan stasiun kereta. Mengikuti petunjuk yang ada aku diarahkan pada sebuah free shuttle bus untuk berpindah ke Terminal 1, karena kereta ke tengah kota berada disana.

Aku menaiki free shuttle bus itu. Menempuh jarak sekitar 2 km dan tak sampai sepuluh menit aku tiba di Terminal 1 tepat pukul enam pagi. Aku mulai berburu tiket kereta.

“Which train must I take to get the cheapest price to Shin-Imamiya Station, Ms?”, aku bertanya kepada petugas wanita yang duduk di bagian penjualan tiket.

“JR Kansai Airport Rapid for 1.060 Yen (Rp. 145.000), Sir”

“Okay, I take that”

Tak lama kemudian, JR Kansai Airport Rapid Train itu tiba. Aku segera memasuki salah satu gerbongnnya yang dominan silver dengan kelir biru, kemudian duduk di salah satu bangku tunggalnya. Tak sampai lima menit, kereta itu berangkat. Begitulah kereta Jepang, tak pernah telat dan selalu tepat waktu.

15 menit kemudian…..

Begitu terkejutnya diriku karena kereta itu melewati jembatan besi raksasa yang gagah mengangkangi laut. Seumur hidup, aku baru tahu kalau Kansai Internatioanl Airport (KIX) berlokasi di tengah laut, berjarak 5 Km dari daratan terdekat di kota Osaka. Bukankah ini pengalaman yang luar biasa?……

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Peach Aviation MM6320 dari Tokyo ke Osaka: Maskapai ke-15

21 December 20205 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Waktu keberangkatanku menuju tur Asia Timur Jilid-2 tinggal sehari lagi. Masih ada satu tahapan itinerary yang masih tercecer dan belum tuntas, yaitu buntunya mekanisme perpindahanku dari Tokyo ke Osaka. Tiga bulan lalu, aku telah menyia-nyiakan tiket bus murah dari Tokyo ke Osaka seharga 5.700 Yen (Rp. 775.000) hanya karena terus berfikir dan banyak mencari pilihan lain. Beberapa waktu kemudian Saat akhir pekan tiba, harga tariff bus itu meningkat hingga 9.700 Yen (1,2 juta). Sedangkan harga tiket Shinkansen mencapai 14.000 Yen (Rp. 1,9 Juta).

Berarti selain bus, Shinkansen juga tak mungkin kupilih. Kereta peluru itu terlalu mahal untuk ukuran kantongku. Mau tak mau, aku harus kembali mengobrak-abrik informasi tentang transportasi Jepang.

Aku mulai melacak perihal seberapa banyak maskapai komersial yang dimiliki oleh Negeri Matahari Terbit. Sebelumnya, aku sudah memesan salah satu maskapai mereka untuk berpindah dari Kaohsiung (Taiwan) ke Tokyo, maskapai itu adalah Vanilla Air. Tetapi maskapai ini nyatanya mematok harga lumayan mahal untuk rute Tokyo ke Osaka, berkisar 10.130 Yen (Rp. 1,4 juta).

Dari persistensiku menjelajah dunia maya, sentuhan mouseku menemukan satu maskapai LCC (Low Cost Carrier) lain milik Jepang, yaitu Peach Aviation. Atrbut maskapai ini mengandalkan perpaduan warna orange dan pink, membentuk warna jingga pucat atau dikenal dengan nama peach. Aku mulai mencari rute. Akhirnya aku menemukan rute Tokyo-Osaka seharga 7.150 Yen (Rp. 970.000), harga yang sedikit lebih hemat daripada menggunakan bus, Shinkansen atau Vanilla Air.

—-****—-

Bersiap take-off bersama Peach Aviation MM6320.

Insiden delay dan tenggakan alkohol secara tak sengaja memang menjadi memori tak mengenakkan sebelum aku meninggalkan Tokyo. Tetapi, aku mulai sumringah ketika nomor penerbanganku disebut dalam pengumuman bandara. Aku mulai mengantri dalam barisan. Mulai terbayang keindahan Osaka Castle dalam setiap detik antrianku. Hingga tiba, boarding pass dan pasporku diperiksa oleh ground staff wanita yang masih sangat muda dan berbadan mungil.

“I’m sorry, this is not your flight. Your flight will be depart 30 minutes later”.

“Are you sure?”, jawabku separuh bertanya.

“Yes, Sir. This flight is MM320 and your flight is MM6320, almost similar”.

“Oh God, I’m sorry. This is my wrong”, aku menepok jidat sambil berusaha menyembunyikan rasa malu.

Aku kembali mundur dari antrian dan duduk di salah satu deretan kursi kosong yang sudah ditinggalkan para calon penumpang untuk memasuki pesawat. Aku masih saja mengamati antrian itu hingga orang terakhir memasuki pesawat. Kini aku kembali menunggu….

30 menit kemudian…..

Tak salah lagi, inilah penerbanganku, aku pastikan informasi nomor penerbangan di layar LCD baik-baik, lalu kucocokkan dengan nomor yang sama di boarding pass….Yup, benar ini MM6320. Aku segera memasuki antrian. Lalu di gerbang antrian, aku memberikan bording pass dan paspor untuk diperiksa oleh salah satu ground staff. Akhirnya, aku diizinkan untuk memasuki pesawat.

Dominasi kabin dengan warna peach menjadikan ruangan itu begitu ceria, sedikit mengurangi penatku dalam berjibaku menghadapi delay. Setiap awak kabin begitu sigap membantu penumpang memasukkan barang bawaan ke kompartemen bagasi. Beberapa kali, seorang pramugari tak ragu melepas sepatunya dan menaiki kursi untuk mendorong beberapa bagasi besar dan merapikan letaknya di kompartemen bagasi.

Seusai persiapan, Peach Aviation MM6320 mulai merayap menuju runway diiringi demonstrasi prosedur keamanan penerbangan oleh awak kabin. Beberapa saat kemudian Kapten Penerbangan meminta izin untuk melakukan take-off. Tak lama setelahnya, Airbus A320-100 itu melaju sekencang-kencangnya meninggalkan Narita International Airport dari Terminal 1.

Langit Tokyo sepertinya cerah malam itu. Aku tak merasakan turbulensi apapun selama 1 jam 35 menit penerbangan. Osaka adalah kota terbesar ketiga Jepang yang berjarak 500km di sebelah barat Tokyo. Sepanjang penerbangan sebagian besar penumpang lebih memilih memejamkan mata, tetapi aku tetap saja menyalakan lampu baca karena tertarik dengan banyaknya informasi pariwisata yang tertuang dalam inflight magazine Peach Aviation. Aku memotret satu demi satu lembar informasi pariwisata yang kubutuhkan selama di Osaka nanti. Rupanya aktivitasku itu diperhatikan oleh seorang pramugari dari belakang. Bahkan pada suatu waktu dia datang menghampiriku.

“Do you still reading, Sir?” .

“Yes, Ms. I need some information from this magazine”.

“Oh Ok, Sir. It doesn’t matter. I just make sure”.

Dia tersenyum dan kembali menduduki bangku pramugarinya di belakang. Bahkan setelahnya, kupastikan bahwa sepanjang penerbangan aku tak pernah memadamkan lampu baca itu. Pukul 23: 53, Kapten penerbangan mulai bicara dengan microphonenya untuk sekedar mengumumkan bahwa pesawat akan segera mendarat di Kansai International Airport Terminal 2. Semua penumpang bergegas bangun, bersiap diri dan merapikan setiap tempat duduknya. Para awak kabin terus mondar-mandir memeriksa sesuai prosedur keamanan untuk proses landing.

Aku masih tak menahu perihal kondisi sesungguhnya di bawah sana karena aku duduk di aisle seat. Aku mampu merasakan ketika pesawat mulai merendah dan sesekali bergoyang untuk menstabilkan posisi. Hingga akhirnya hentakan halus roda pesawat memberitahukanku bahwa Peach Aviation sudah menyentuh runway Kansai International Airport, di Terminal 2 tepatnya.

Tidak ada aerobridge yang menyambut, semua penumpang harus menuruni tangga dan dijemput oleh Narita apron shuttle bus menuju bangunan terminal.

Tiba di Kansai International Airport Terminal 2 tepat tengah malam.

Malam itu, aku memtuskan untuk bermalam di Kansai International Airport Terminal 2 dan akan berangkat menuju ke tengah kota di keesokan hari.

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

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Narita International Airport Terminal 1: Alkohol….Oh, Alkohol

17 December 20205 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Pintu masuk Narita International Airport Terminal 1

Membayar 1.000 Yen (Rp. 136.000) kepada pengemudi berdasi, menerima selembar tanda bayar, diakhiri dengan menduduki bangku paling belakang, kini aku bersiap menelusuri Higashi Kanto Expressway. Ini adalah jalanan yang sama ketika aku melewatnya untuk pertama kali sesaat setelah tiba di Tokyo beberapa hari lalu.

Menempuh jalur aspal sepanjang 70 kilometer dan dalam tempo satu jam, membuatku terlelap di sepanjang dua prefektur yang dilalui oleh JR Kanto Bus, yaitu Tokyo dan Chiba. Aku terbangun ketika bus telah sampai di Narita International Airport dan berhenti sejenak di Terminal 2 untuk menurunkan beberapa penumpangnya. Kini aku diserang kekhawatiran apabila bus telah melewati Terminal 1. Tetapi aku berusaha tetap tenang dan mengikuti arus bus.

Beruntungnya diriku ketika melihat nameboard Terminal 1 jauh di hadapan. Yups, ternyata stop pointku belum terlewat.

Tepat pukul 16:41, aku diturunkan di drop-off zone oleh pengemudi JR Bus Kanto, lalu bergegas memasuki salah satu pintu masuk Narita. Aku semakin percaya diri dengan keberadaan logo Peach Aviation di deretan logo para maskapai yang beroperasi di Terminal 1.

“Aku sudah berada di terminal yang tepat”, batinku riang.

Tetapi tantangan lain hadir, aku masih berjarak lima jam dari jadwal keberangkatan. Konter self-check-in belum mengizinkanku mencetak boarding pass.

“Baiklah, aku tunggu saja”, aku menyabarkan diri.

Dua setengah jam menunggu di sebuah kursi departure hall, akhirnya aku sukses melakukan proses self–check-in tepat pukul 19:25. Kugenggam selembar boarding pass lalu melangkah mantab menuju gate. Begitu tiba, ternyata gate masih saja belum siap.

World Sky Gate_Narita sebagai branding baru dari Narita International Airport.

*Floor plan* Narita International Airport Terminal 1..

Hingga akhirnya, aku memutuskan mencari minimarket untuk berburu makan malam. Aku menemukan keberadaan Lawson di salah satu koridor dan memasukinya tanpa pikir panjang. Dengan cepat aku mengambil satu kemasan onigiri seharga 248 Yen (Rp. 34.000) dan air mineral termurah seharga 103 Yen (Rp. 14.000) lalu membawanya ke kasir.

Selesai membayar, kulanjutkan langkah menuju observation deck, kemudian terduduk di salah satu kursinya untuk menikmati lalu lintas pesawat berbagai maskapai yang sibuk hilir mudik di Narita International Airport. Outdoor observation deck itu dihembus oleh angin musim dingin yang konsisten membekukan badan.

Walau tak nyaman karena dingin, aku tetap berusaha menikmati makan malam, tetap menduduki salah satu bangku observation deck dan terus terpesona dengan pasangan kegiatan take-off dan landing pesawat-pesawat berbadan besar.

Aku terus berusaha menampilkan senyum terbaik dalam menguyah onigiri, tak mau kalah dengan mimik bahagia para khalayak di sekitarku ketika menikmati harumnya sajian restoran yang mendiami sepanjang sisi observation deck.

Potongan terakhir onigiriku tuntas tak bersisa. Aku lantas membuka air mineral kemasan. Kubuka tutupnya dan tanpa ragu menenggaknya layaknya orang kehausan. Setenggak penuh air akhirnya meluncur mulus di tenggorokan. Tetapi mataku melotot karena hidungku tersengat aroma asing. Sensani hangat menyelimuti sepanjang tenggorokan. Dan akhirya, secara otomatis, aku terbatuk sejadi-jadinya.

Bukan air mineral murni !….Minuman bening itu jelas memuat kandungan alkohol di dalamnya. Akhirnya aku bisa merasakan sensasi alkohol walau secara tak sengaja….Duh, istighfar atau menikmati ya?….Wadaow.

Aku masih saja enggan membuang air kemasan beralkohol itu dan memasukkannya ke dalam backpack. Jika nantinya tak disita di screening gate, biar saja menjadikannya kenangan selama di Osaka.

Akhirnya, selepas puas menikmati lalu lintas bandara, aku segera menuju gate dan bersiap diri untuk terbang.HHmmhh… Begitu memasuki gate, informasi delay langsung menghampiri. Karena penasaran berat, aku menanyakan secara langsung ke ground staff wanita perihal kevalidan delay ini. Dia membenarkan bahwa Peach Aviation bernomor terbang MM6320 memang mengalami keterlambatan ketibaan di Narita dan aku harus menunggu kembali hingga satu jam ke depan.

@Kids park, menunggu pesawat datang menjemput.

Kuhabiskan waktu tambahan selama satu jam ke depan dengan memejamkan mata di ruang tunggu. Aku terduduk di sebelah Kids Park dekat gate Terminal 1….

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Menulis Do’a dan Harapan di Meiji Jingū

9 December 20205 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Besiap untuk petualangan hari kedua di Tokyo. @ *platform* Stasiun Nakano.

Tragedi kehilangan dompet di Stasiun Nakano membuatku menelan ludah ketakutan, ternyata masih tersisa sisi penakut dibalik keberanianku menjelajah dunia. Aku sejenak menenangkan diri dengan menyeruput air minum dari free water station di salah satu platform Stasiun Nakano.

Komuter silver berkelir kuning penguasa Chūō Line itupun tiba, kuayunkan langkah memasuki gerbong tengah dan duduk di bangku panjang sisi kiri. Aku sengaja memilih duduk tepat di atas console grill pemanas. Itulah kebiasaanku selama menaiki kereta Negeri Matahari Terbit yang sedang tergelincir ke dalam musim dingin.

Aku terus mengikuti arus Chūō Line menuju timur lalu menukik ke selatan setelah berganti dengan kereta Yamanote Line di Stasiun Shinjuku. Dalam waktu dua puluh menit, aku tiba di Stasiun Harajuku setelah menempuh jarak sejauh tujuh kilometer. Untuk tarif sepanjang itu, aku hanya perlu membayar 170 Yen (Rp. 23.000).

Melintasi koridor panjang Stasiun Harajuku, aku keluar dari West Exit yang langsung berhadapan dengan Meiji Jingū First Torii Gate di sisi kanannya. Tetapi astaga……

Kini aku kehilangan gloves sebelah kanan, bagaimana aku mampu menahan beku jika perlengkapan itu raib?. Dengan terpaksa, aku kembali menelusuri jalurku ketika keluar dari platform stasiun dan akhirnya aku menemukan sebelah gloves itu di tengah koridor setelah automatic fare collection gates. Entah kenapa?, sedari pagi, aku terundung kehilangan barang walaupun kembali tertemukan. Mungkinkah ini permulaan dari segala hal mengejutkan di depan petualanganku?.

Baiklah…Fokus kembali ke langkahku…..

Kini aku sudah berpose di depan gerbang Kuil Meiji. Torii itu begitu khas, pengilham sebuah logo perusahaan otomotif kenamaan Negeri Para Samurai. Kutapaki gravel mulus sebagai jalur masuk menuju kuil. Jalur itu memiliki lebar sedasa meter di sisi kiri, dipadu jalur paving block selebar satu meter berpembatas tambang untuk jalur keluar di sebelah kanan. Sementara di beberapa bagian, jalur itu di batasi oleh pagar-pagar bambu yang tersusun rapi setinggi pinggang orang dewasa.

Di depan gerbang Stasiun Meiji-jingumae “Harajuku” (Chiyoda Line) sebagai bagian dari *Tokyo Metro Subway Network*. Tetapi aku tak menaiki Tokyo Metro itu….Alias nampang doang….Hohoho.

Sementara seorang petugas tua, menyingkirkan dedauanan dari gravel menggunakan backpack leaf blower. Dedauan itu hanya perlu dipinggirkan ke sisi jalan dan dibiarkan menjadi kompos alami, begitu ramah lingkungan.

Dalam empat ratus meter, di sisi kanan, aku terpesona dengan susunan rapi kazaridaru yang didedikasikan untuk Meiji-tennō dan Shōken-kōgō. Sedangkan tepat di sisi kiri adalah susunan drum anggur terbuat dari kayu.

Sampai pada Torii utama kuil, setiap pengunjung wajib membersihkan tangan di Temizuya dengan air menggunakan gayung-gayung bertangkai panjang. Ritual membasuh diri atau misogi ini bertujuan untuk memurnikan tubuh dan pikiran sebelum berdiri di depan dewa untuk berdoa.

*Temizuya* (paviliun bersuci shinto untuk pemurnian) di Meiji Jingū.

Sejenak aku terhenti setelah melewati gerbang utama, aku terkagum-kagum karena luas dan besarnya Meiji Jingū . Inilah kuil yang dipersembahkan untuk menghormati roh Meiji-tennō , penguasa Jepang masa lalu.

Sementara itu di beberapa bagian kuil sedang dilakukan renovasi. Para pekerja berseragam carpenter warna putih, lengkap dengan berbagai peralatan pertukangan di pinggang serta mengenakan safety helmet tampak berdiri diatas step ladder, sibuk melakukan perbaikan.

Sementara di ujung kuil, tampak para turis mengantri pada sebuah toko yang menjual papan ema dan omamori. Toko itu tampak dijaga oleh wanita-wanita cantik berbaju kimono putih berpadu merah, mereka tampak sopan dan anggun melayani para pengunjung.

Sementara aku meyibukkan diri untuk menuliskan sebuah do’a pada selembar kertas, lalu kumasukkan ke dalam sebuah kotak. Sedangkan beberapa wisatawan menulis do’a dan harapan pada papan ema yang dibelinya, kemudian menggantungkannya pada spot yang telah disediakan.

Toko penjual *omamor*i yaitu jimat yang diyakini masyarakat Jepang dapat membawa keberuntungan dan keselamatan.

Papan ema, plakat kayu kecil yang dihiasi dengan seni tulisan tangan yang mengungkapkan harapan

Tak terasa satu setengah jam berjalan hingga akhirnya aku selesai menelusuri seluruh bagian kuil. Inilah destinasi terakhirku di Tokyo, karena aku akan segera menuju Narita International Airport untuk mengejar penerbangan Peach Aviation bernomor MM6320 yang akan berangkat pada pukul 21:35.

Akhirnya kuputuskan untuk segera menuju ke Stasiun Harajuku dan bergegas menuju Stasiun Tokyo, karena aku berencana menggunakan JR Bus Kanto menuju bandara.

Mari……..

Bersiap diri di Stasiun Harajuku….Menuju Stasiun Tokyo.

Kisah Berikutnya—->