Selamat Jalang – A safe journey!
As Lewis the Lion left Pantai Bira, he couldn’t believe how quickly his stay in Indonesia had gone and yet what he had done in the last week here had far exceeded even his wildest dreams. Even till the last minute here in Sulawesi he continued to be surprised by the unexpected, such as the flexibility of time when making arrangements or the fact that the taxi driver changed over and switched registration plates: very peculiar behaviour! On arriving at Makassar airport, there was a teary goodbye to his friend Marion as they went their separate ways. He was now heading on to his fourth Asian country, Thailand but first of all, he would have to go via the nation’s capital city: Jakarta. (That’s not before he’d managed to ellicit some help from some friendly airport staff who helped him print off his boarding pass for his flight to Thailand the next day. He always seemed to be very fortunate at getting the help that he needed: what a lucky lion!).
Flying over Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta
Lewis the Lion knew that Jakarta is a huge metropolis with a population of around 10 million people. However, unfortunately he wouldn’t get to see too much of it this time as his flight was in the evening and then his next flight to Bangkok was very early in the morning. Nonetheless, he enjoyed flying over the bright lights of Jakarta and thought that one time in his life he might just have to come back and explore it properly!
Lewis the Lion arrives in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta
When he arrived at Jakarta’s international airport, he was greeted with some familiar words “Selamat Datang” meaning “Welcome.” Although the welcome he did get when he left the airport wasn’t quite so warm…
Taxi drivers again clammered for business from the passengers exiting the airport terminal. Lewis the Lion was getting used to haggling here in Indonesia and couldn’t believe that taxi drivers wanted to charge Rp 100,000.00 for a ten minute taxi drive, especially when he had just spent 4 and a half hours in a taxi in Sulawesi which had only cost him Rp 50,000! “What a rip-off!” he thought to himself. Eventually, a taxi driver told Helen that the airport taxes were Rp 20,000 which turned out to be untrue: they were only Rp 7,000 but unfortunately, she had already agreed to pay Rp 50,000 for her fare to the hotel. Even though Lewis the Lion was still not happy, she reasoned with him that it was better to pay the money and ensure that they got to the hotel safely as it was late at night. (After all, it was only approximately £3.40 but it was funny how you suddenly got into the mindset of a particular country once you’d been there for a while). At least in the morning they would be able to get a free transfer from the hotel back to the airport, including a boxed-up breakfast which they took with them.
However, the drama wasn’t quite over yet as the airport shuttle bus dropped them off at the wrong airport terminal and on realising it, Lewis the Lion and Helen had to rush to catch another bus to take them to another terminal ten minutes away. They then had to wait in a huge queue, where Lewis the Lion witnessed people paying airport officials to move them up the line to make sure they got on their flight. Unfortunately, Lewis and Helen only had a enough Indonesian Rupiahs to pay for their airport taxes at the counter and so they just had to hold their nerve and pray that they could check their luggage in on time. Lewis the Lion felt such a sense of relief when they eventually made it in the nick of time and they even had time to pick up a souvenir in the airport shop: a magnet.
A magnet representing Indonesia
Helen had been collecting them since they had started their worldwide journey and she rather liked this one as it reminded her of the way the guests had warmly welcomed them to the celebration with the Sultan of Sulawesi.
Lewis the Lion prepares to leave Jakarta airport, bound for Bangkok
Lewis’ Indonesian departure card is stamped
After going through passport control, Lewis the Lion then happily awaited his turn at the departure gate where he could see the sign for Bangkok, his next destination. He felt a wave of excitement as this time, he would be catching up with Helen’s best friend Sinead who was going to join them there in the following days.
Lewis leaves Jakarta for Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city
As the plane took off over Jakarta, Lewis the Lion felt deep contentment in his soul as he looked down on the rice fields below.
Flying above the rice paddies of Indonesia
What an unexpected and adventurous time he had had in Indonesia: at times magial and at times frustrating but for sure, it was never dull!
Lewis the Lion would like you to design a magnet that would best represent your city, town or country. What would you include and why?
