Izzy Travel Notes

When this note was written, I was waiting for the flight that would take me back to Indonesia, transiting from the earlier flight from LA, US. Since the company was kind enough to pay me business class ticket, I didn’t have to be wandering around the airport at 5 am – although waiting for the flight at Changi Airport is not causing you any suffer because you practically can have anything here – and instead spending my transit time at SilverKris lounge in the Terminal 2 of this magnificent airport, resting and refreshing myself…

Breakfast, done. Shower, done. Shower? Yes, they also provide a shower also in the lounge, so I could refresh myself while waiting for the next flight. What next? Shopping? At 6 am, all the tenants in the terminal is already open inviting the awaiting passengers like myself to spend some cash before leaving this small country. Internet? In all corners of the airport, on the Terminal 3, we can get the wireless connection practically everywhere. Free.

I can only imagine, if Soekarno-Hatta airport in Jakarta provides free wireless connection like Changi, the airport will be more crowded because there will be huge bunch of people coming to the airport only for the free browsing, LOL…

Our fellow neighbor really puts the service – it seems everyone already knows – although at the same time they do not rule out other factors such as security. At every corner of the terminal, you can find at least one security officer (or soldier?), wearing uniform like Indonesian Gegana elite troops, fully armed and always alert of their surrounding situation. Seems like they do not want to take any risks. Inspection standards were almost the same as the one that was applied in the US, except in Singapore you didn’t have to take off your shoes and I also didn’t need to hold my pants so it wouldn’t sag because I didn’t have to remove my belt – well, as the result the alarm alerted sucessfully and I had a thorough body-check from the officer…

Well, there was nothing new, what I was writing above. Not much has changed since the last time I stopped by at this wonderful airport. I’m still hoping Soekarno-Hatta airport could someday shine as our neighbor’s airport. “Visit Indonesia Year 2008” is actually a good momentum to move towards it. “100 Years of National Awakening” can be a good momentum to build our nation in every aspect…

But wait, our government is still busy with the continuously-increasing fuel prices. So I guess we will have to wait a little more longer…

* The bahasa Indonesia version of this note can be found at: http://www.ismawanismail.com/blog/changi/