Introducing to you: Business Class!

 

 

Assalamualaikum

 

Call me a freak of the universe or what’s not, I was beyond ecstatic upon knowing that my extra crew flight seating is in the business class section! Wuhoo! And I don’t have to fork out a single cent! Obviously I don’t have to, I was there for work. So to those unfamiliar with the term “ Extra Crew “, the perfect laymen’s term will be “Paxing”. And what the heck is Paxing? Hahahahaha. I love to toy around with your emotions my dear readers ( Hopefully I still have people reading my blorg haha )

let’s get down to the A to Z, the 101 of my working pattern. As you might know, I’m based in Jakarta. There’s the management office and main operational base called FLOPS ( Flight Operations ). But I’m not active in Jakarta, or easy to put it this way, I don’t take off and land the aircraft in Jakarta. Instead, I’ll be flying from other base such as Surabaya or Bali. To get there, us pilots will be assigned seats from the airline working under the same umbrella, bound for our destination as per schedule.

Do you guys get it??

I was from Jogja and was at the end of my working shift, commonly 4 to 5 days of flying duties away from Jakarta. Scheduled to fly back to Jakarta as an Extra Crew at …… OK I’ve forgotten the departure time hahaha. As I have predicted, they didn’t allocate the seat for me, mainly coz I was flying back to Jakarta alone and they probably missed out on that. As a singing pilot, ahahahaha, I remained cool and calmly requested to the ground staffs for any empty seat on the flight. Be advised that there are 13 flight Jakarta – Jogja and most of the time, They’ll be full. With my fingers crossed, finally I was given the designated seat number. Alhamdulillah.

 

 

Seat 2A. For a full economy seating, that seat is obviously behind the front row. I was super excited when I stepped into the cabin. IT WAS BUSINESS CLASS!!!! WUHOOOOOOO!!!! FIRST TIME EVER IN MY 22 YEARS APPROACHING 23 YEARS OF LIFE IN FEW MONTHS TIME THAT PLEASE LAH PEOPLE GIVE ME PRESENTS EVEN DRIED CHILLIES IS OK SINCE THEY DON’T HAVE IT HERE IN JAKARTA HAHAHA THAT I EVER FLOWN ON BUSINESS CLASS!!!! ALHAMDULILLAH

 

Was further put into greater state of gratefulness to find out that I was the only one in the Business section. Wuhoooo. I surely can get used to the VIP, special treatment kinda lifestyle. Hahahaha. Though the flight is a short sector, about 45 to 50 minutes, I’ll make the best out of this first experience. Lets do this!

 

 

Ample room for my spidery long legs ( yeah right ), Which I can only get at the front most row seats or near the wings seating next to the emergency windows. I always felt like a sardine stuck in a tiny tin drenched in tomato broth. OK let’s cook gulai sardine tonight hahaha.

 

Ohhh, so this is the in flight magazine for kids. Since I was soo excited to sit in the business section, even the smallest finding like this meant a world to me. OK shut up. hahaha

 

 

See see, I told you I was the only  one there. Wuhoo. Was feeling a tad generous therefore the uncle’s face is included in this frame hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

 

This caveman’s premier experience of flying on business class. Ermmmm, that means that this caveman is a frequent flyer of the coach section. LONG LIVE CAVEMAN!

 

 

Caveman: Hey, I heard you guys have pillows and blankies for business class passengers. I’m a bit drowsy. Can I have a set?

stewardess: Sure, here you go.

Caveman: Hahahaha no lah just kidding, I just wanna snap few photos with it

 

 

Ok, with nothing else to do, It’s a better option for me to hit the dreamland. Of coz not, I never sleep flying as extra crew. I always hang out with the stewardesses at the front galley. They find me, hilarious. Not sure why. Perhaps the language differences.

 

 

OK, it was not a complete experience without the complimentary refreshment, which I proactively walked to the front galley and asked. “ Ehh, no free meals?” Ya Allah I felt a bit ashamed of doing so. They have for me the chocolate bun. I saw  the chicken sandwich and I asked to the stewardess again that why she refused to offer me with that. The stewardess further clarified that it was for the early morning flight. It’s OK. I just wanna snap a photo or two of it. No harm in doin so right?

Eventually, the chicken sandwich got ingested by the caveman and went down his throat – __ --

 

P/S: I have registered myself for a vocal training classes. InsyaAllah to be in session in January. Siti Nurhaliza, I’m coming for youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…

Reflexology

 

Assalamualaikum

 

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I didn’t blorg for nearly a month? AHAHAHAHAHAHA I’m totally took slacking off to a whole other galaxy. What happened to the so called renewed commitment towards this lovely web diary where I constantly spill all my brainwaste and emotion by products to? Ahahaha. Let me recall back my life during my absence:

• For a week, I was down with flu and rather high fever which was at its worst during daytime and cooled off at night. It took me a week to finally realised all I need was antibiotic. Clearly proven that this humble physique of mine is not that strong at all. Oh I can’t be weak. NO.
• My family came to Jakarta, for 8 days. Obviously an undivided attention must be put to cater for the best for my guests. All 8 of them. How many of you at the tender age of 22 ( OK I’m no longer a teenager ) has 8 people came in barging at your apartment. Now though I’m living alone, but I have 9 pillows in total. Should organise more sleepovers in near future.

Yeah, I said it all. I slacked for a reason. I do love myself for doing this, to further uplift my image and to again further avoid myself from looking like a total ignorant to his on blorg. OK I’m on diet. Don’t toy with my feeling. I’m in the state of mental instability hahaha.

 

 Inside the terminal of Batam International Airport

 

facts about this airport:

• it has the longest runway amongst all airports in Indonesia, at the length of 4Km something. I’m not good with numbers. Ahahaha
• It serves as an alternate to the much applauded Changi International Airport of Singapore.
• When I say it acts as an alternate, I do mean it. Soon after take off, tadaaaa you can see the republic island. Not you who can see it, it’s me. I’m in the cockpit. Since you guys are stuck in the cabin, retreat yourself by enjoying the breath taking view of the Batam’s…….. ermm, what do they have there?

 

 

 The lounge. My favourite spot

 

Since the flight back to Jakarta is scheduled to arrive an hour plus from the time we touched down in Batam, the captain and I proceeded to the lounge, accompanied by the ground staff. It was a typical lounge. Nothing to shout about. As usual free wifi is provided but I was totally drained by the days of flying there. for 2 days I started by day before sunrise and ended my working hour after the sunset. Nope. I can’t even see the shadow of the sun when I stepped out from the plane. It was hectic but it’s good. Really good. My major concern with the lounge was the toilet. There’s only one cubicle and an urinal. My rectum was growling yet I need to keep it on hold as the person using the toilet bowl took soo long to end up his business in the cubicle!

 

***arghhhhh ( sigh of relief ), wash wash, flush flush***

 

Once I’m done with the call of nature, I went around wandering, refreshments were nice but I was not in the mood for filling up my belly. The magazines were in abundance but I don’t really understand Indonesian language. How should I kill the remaining time left in Batam??

 

To the reflexology I went

To those who do not know me ( most of you guys for sure haha ), massage and myself, we aren’t good together. It is destined that I need to repel myself from any massaging gestures made on my body. It’s scary. I have a super strong reflex action. Once my friend tapped me on my waist ( coz she is short ahaha ) and the reflex action took over me and I accidentally elbowed her, on her face. Scary. Alhamdulillah no bruise was left on her face and she remains alive till this day. An another incident, I was in the salon in Setiawangsa and sure, they’ll prewash my hair before it got trimmed. I found it to be sooo uncomfortably tickling, I ended up washing my own hair. Sucks that I still need to pay for the wash service. Erghhh.

And yet why did I brave myself to step into the reflexology section of the lounge??

 

 

Ya Allah I did the unthinkable. I let myself to be manned, by a man. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Nothing racy, just reflexology. Wow that rhymes. Never ever ever in my 22 years of life, anyone had ever washed my feet. Do not count when I was a baby. I was about to scream. It tickled and it was sooo disturbing. I just not in favor to be touched. Ahahahaha.

 

 

Ooooo, a giant CCTV camera, facing to the wall –____--

 

 

Wait, that was the guy from the toilet! He was to be blamed for making me holding my digestive waste from walking out the backdoor. Ahahahaha. And now he’s massaging my feet. Yes, I strongly perceived that he had washed his hands. Ahahahaha

 

 

 

I constantly told him to be rough on me. Ok that sounded sooo inappropriate. If he takes it slow, it will feel as if he’s caressing my feet. Not gonna happen. I demanded for pressure. and he did. And he was hard. And I loving it. OKKKKKKKKKKKK sounded sooo against the nature of humanity.

Being soo inquisitive, I asked him how the pressure he applied on my feet will affect my well being. He explained it all, the heels will connect to which part of the body and the list was endless. It hurts a lot. He told me my body is in a bad shape. OK. Noted. Huhuhu

 

'’ WE HAVE BEEN REJUVENATED! " screamed the feet.

 

Wooooooow. Never in my life that I ever think of how much your feet may influence the whole system of your body. It felt good, real good. I’m changing my mind. Massage is not a bad thing after all. I gained lots of benefits out of it. I will surely do it again! No wonder mama just love it so much for me to massage her shoulder.

 

 

As I walked through the tarmac to the aircraft bound for Jakarta, I saw this mammoth, Hajj flight, just arrived from Jeddah. The cabin crew is the mix of locals and arabs. And the locals looked like grandmas. My captain further clarified that they are retired cabin crews and are contracted for Hajj flights. Ooooo that’s cool. You still can fly even with them wrinkle on your face hahaha.

Another view. It’s too massive it just can’t fit in the frame.

 

The stupidest thing I’ve done so far in Indonesia:

Already on my designated seat. Flight will be pushed back soon. The cabin crews are busy doing the last part of their duty before closing the door of the aircraft. And then, the unexpected, the airline ground staff came in. I thought she is heading to Jakarta too. And then she opened her mouth and speak her mind out

“ mas, you haven’t pay for the massage.”

 

YA ALLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!           I thought it was free!!!!!

I thought it was included as part of the service in the lounge. Since we don’t have to pay for the food I guess the massage is handled in the same manner too.

 

EMBARASSING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I took out the only piece of note left in my wallet. Hope it was sufficient to cover the fees, I bet it’ll do. Ya Allah. All I wanna do at that point was to rip of the pashmina from the lady across my seat and to cover my face throughout the flight. Might as well throughout the day.

 

P/S; Dato’ K is recovering from the road accident in Queenstown. Hope that all of us could offer some prayer for a speedy recovery of his fractured shoulder. Amin

Flying as a passenger 101

 

The adverse effect of pressurisation. Hahahaha

 

Ya Allah I’ve been on a hiatus for a week! I should renew my commitment towards being committed to this baby, my blorg that is. Was sick few weeks ago and hahaha, sick again this week. Before the further elaboration on the topic of flying, may I express my frustration towards AIM for not granting Siti Nurhaliza any award for this year. Hands down, no one stands at par to the quality of her voice and let alone be better than her! YES I am mad and I am as I was typing this. Seriously Malaysian music industry, please reevaluate yourself, where will you be without the presence of the most successful singer ever. I don’t think any other nation on this planet owns a singer with such fruitful career and hold the throne for being the number 1 entertainer for such a long duration.

NO ONE CAN BEAT SITI NURHALIZA!!!!! NO ONE NO ONE!!!

 

OK enough of blabbering, let’s talk about flying. Yeah checking in at the counter or doing it online, holding the boarding pass, gracefully walking to the departure gate pretending yourself strutting the catwalk on the runway of Versace. Flying with airliners will just kick the enthusiasm knob to high gear. Alhamdulillah thank you Ya Allah, I always appreciate flying with airline and today I’m working for one, oversea. Ahahahaha. These few keypoints that I’ll share with you are just basically based on my point of view, through my observation. Therefore if you’re judgemental enough, you may skip. Hahahaha.

 

Danau Toba taken from flight level 160

 

Do not be late

Nobody likes to be delayed, right? Smack yourself hard if you like so. There’re so many factors that may contribute to the delay of an aircraft’s departure and arrival. Blame it on aircraft traffic, technicalities of the aircraft, weather accumulation and even ground handling issues. Yes, there’re so many possible factors that may lead towards delay and please, DO NOT BE ONE OF THEM. Take my words seriously and I am being serious. Be at the airport at least 2 hours before, be ready at the departure gate as per schedule and walk fast. Hahahaha. Always practice online check in as this will cut the time for any processing at the airport. If you’re embarking for an international flight, be much much ahead of time, at least by 3 hours. Immigration check may consume your time.

 

Another international destination: Penang Island. Hahahahaha

 

Do not carry along an elephant as a hand carried luggage

Hahahaha if you possess the energy to carry along a mama jumbo, you might be flying with an entourage of a circus. I do understand that most of the airline travelers are complaining on the restriction of the size and the weight of the hand carried luggage. Not forgetting the check in luggage must abide to such limitations and will cost quite a lot if you ever exceed it. Bare in mind, the overhead stowage in the aircraft is just like a house. If you own a 3 bed room apartment, you can’t afford to bare 14 kids. You just can’t fit it in. It is always troublesome for a passenger to block the aisle and cause delay for boarding just coz he or she is struggling to fit his or her luggage/a huge box of cookies/50kg sack of rice into the stowage. Mind you, aircraft performance is limited by its weight. You don’t wanna put the pilots to struggle, being one of the reason why the aircraft is overweight. Ooooo I’m fierce!

 

 

Chicken curry. A potful!

 

Switch off the freaking phone!!

You do realize that when you put your phone next to the TV or car audio, you can hear the static noise tettt tettt tettt right? Yes, it can happen the same way to the aircraft. the signal that you may receive will just be an annoyance and it worst case scenario, it may cause miscommunications between the pilots and the controller. Logically you can’t expect to get any mobile network at the high cruising altitude. But this is crucial at lower altitude for example on descent to land and it is a crucial phase of the flight. I did use the word crucial twice in the previous sentence haha.

 

With crazy Kelly. When are we gonna head down to the karaoke and dangdut again??

 

Why the cabin lights are switched off during take off and landing

This is the most obvious if your departing and landing at night. The airline is not playing hide and seek of any such kind. The purpose of doing so is for situational adaptation. All that is in mind is focused towards emergency evacuation. You don’t wanna give ur eyes a shock. Imagine yourself driving through a dark tunnel and exited out to a bright sunlight. Yes, your eyes just can’t take the sudden brightness. Vice versa if you’re walking into a dark place. OK I’m soo sleepy. Enough with these few points of my view. ahahaha

 

P/S: Will you still love me tomorrow, Siti Nurhaliza??