Tag 58 - Indonesian

06/27/19

Today is the day of departure. Our alarm clock rings at 07:00 AM. We have breakfast for the first (and the last) time in the lobby of the accommodation. The TukTuk driver, whom we 'booked' yesterday, is already waiting impatiently and points out the traffic that is supposed to be particularly bad this morning. We finish eating, say goodbye to the hostel operator, and get into the TukTuk. Before we can start driving, the driver still has to clean his vehicle with the help of a water hose. Why he didn't do this in the half hour he sat opposite us will remain a mystery forever.

Well, then let's go, if our means of transportation would start. After the fifth attempt, it finally starts, only to give up the ghost at the next traffic light - luckily we have planned a buffer. After a good hour in Phnom Penh's rush hour traffic and some engines running out, we finally arrive at the airport. In addition to the agreed 7€, the taxi driver asks for a small bonus because of the delay and the exhausting traffic, of course. But since we didn't feel particularly safe or treated friendly, we decide not to leave a tip for the rather pushy fellow.

We enter the airport, look at the display board and realize that, despite the delay, we still have half an hour until the counter opens where we can check in our luggage. After our flight is displayed, we go to the counter, wait a few minutes in line, show our passports, throw our luggage on the conveyor belt, and then we get rejected.

Wait, what?

The employee, who speaks very poor English, asks us how long we want to stay in Indonesia. 'about seven weeks' we answer. Then she asks for an exit confirmation for Indonesia (this is quite common for longer stays in Indonesia. You have to prove that you will leave the country again) We show her our booking confirmation from Indonesia to New Zealand, including the invoice; unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work, because the lady insists on seeing a ticket. We try to explain to her, with gestures and words, that you often only get your ticket a week before the flight (It's strange that you have to explain this to an airport employee). However, the woman doesn't care and sends us to her colleague, one counter further. Once again, we describe our (actually quite simple) scenario. This woman now immediately demands a visa, because we want to stay in Indonesia for more than a month. We AGAIN try to explain that you usually get your two-month visa on-site. 'No, it's not possible, you need a visa now, otherwise you're not allowed to fly'. Completely desperate because of this catastrophic incompetence, we move away from the counter with our luggage and without a boarding pass. We see some other tourists who seem to have the same problem. We prepare the booking confirmation, the flight invoice, the Indonesian visa law, and the entry requirements in English on our mobile phone, all from official websites, and try again. This time we try to get to a more relaxed colleague by standing in his line. Unfortunately, this person changes places with the fury from before one minute earlier - this must be a joke! Once again, we throw all the important information and facts at her, still friendly, which she ignores professionally in a Donald Trump manner. Now she wants a flight number. Jonna looks up our flight on a flight search engine on the internet, gives her the flight number, and we can check in our luggage.

Really?

In addition to all the really important documents and information, a 20-second search and the transmission of a publicly accessible flight number have now convinced her (you could have given this flight number without even booking the flight, which completely undermines the purpose of the regulation). Absolutely bewildered, we just smile stupidly and disappear from this intellectual vacuum as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, everything else goes much smoother. Even though the time at the counter seemed very tight, we had a pleasant break at the gate. The transfer in Kuala Lumpur went absolutely smoothly as well. It was great that we were provided with enough food on both flights (Phnom Penh -> Kuala Lumpur 1 hour 50 minutes / Kuala Lumpur -> Bali 3 hours 30 minutes / One hour transfer in Kuala Lumpur), so we landed on Bali relaxed and satisfied at around 6:00 PM. We buy our extendable visa, go through passport control, pick up our backpacks, go through customs, and then smell the Indonesian air for the first time.

Since we read on the internet that the taxis at the terminal are much more expensive due to an airport tax, we walk a few meters and leave the airport grounds. We pass an unbelievable number of bars and drunk people, honked at by countless taxis and approached by drivers. We are offered souvenirs and massages, and somehow we feel like being at Ballermann. Since the taxi drivers all demand twice the price we read on the internet, we move from street corner to street corner, only to realize that we have already covered half of the distance between the airport and our accommodation. Pretty exhausted, we arrive at the address we were given and wonder where the advertised surfboard at the entrance door is. After a short research and another search for the map, this time with a different app, we see that we have passed our actual destination about three kilometers ago. Absolutely annoyed, tired and exhausted, we drag ourselves and our backpacks back a part of the way (still besieged by taxi drivers, waiters, and masseuses), and finally, around 9:30 PM (8:00 PM was agreed upon), we stand in front of a surfboard at a front door.

Beforehand, we arranged with our hosts that we could go to the terrace as soon as we are there. So we do, stand in a small courtyard, and embarrassedly call for the hosts. Within a minute, the two of them, already in their pajamas, come down from the first floor, greet us friendly, and show us our room, where we can get rid of our backpacks. We sit on the terrace with the two of them for almost an hour, smoking, drinking, and starting to get to know each other. Lucy is a 26-year-old Hungarian who has been living in Bali for about two years, and Ian, 30, is Indonesian and has been living in Bali for six years; they are engaged and adopted a puppy, Cuki, half a year ago - incredibly cute! Since Ian has to give surfing lessons early in the morning and we are completely exhausted, we end the session, take a shower, and cuddle up in the very cozy bed.

- Jonna & Alex