Just returned from Jakarta and Bandung last Sunday for one quick, short noticed trip with our little ones and it was truly an exhausting trip. That was our first trip with both of our infant kids and we did less sightseeing but more feeding jobs and taking care of our little ones. The moment we touched down in KLIA, I poped up a question to my wife whether she anticipated such a trip again, and she replied 'we'll see..' big question mark, but I know it was not to her expectation. The flight itself, was at least beyond our expectation and we had a great comfort travelling in business.
The flight
I thought the ticket which said that we are going to ride in business was just a mere joke. It was until we checked in that we realized that we definitely will be on business class. Anyway, KLM return ticket for KUL CGK bound was really affordable and with little top up anybody can sit in their business class. It was a good experience though. Extra baggage allowance, service with smile, free flow of everything, good attention and to make it all sweet, on board freebies.
The moment we checked in, we were offered pass to the premium lounge and this lounge is located somewhere in the satellite. It an open lounge, anybody can have access with 88 ringgit and if I purposely like to pay to enter, I would probably not. Nothing much to expect other than some dishes and cakes. It has few PC and resting area. Perhaps it is good for those who really need rest but not for those savvy traveller. We spent like an hour before we proceed to the gate but satisfy because it was a complimentary.
The call for boarding was really early. We supposed to depart at 1620 but the crew has started the boarding process 40 minutes earlier. The business cabin was spacious, more than enough legroom even my kid can play around. Crew were very much attentive and even in less than two hours flight meals were given and they keep asking whether we need anything else. The cabin temperature is somehow high, and with KL unrest sunlight, we were almost toasted in the cabin. Being in the business class means early disembarkation but with our stroller in the plane belly, it did not speed up the process. We waited until the last person in economy disembark before our kid stroller eventually came in and that did not help. Immigration process in CGK was somehow slow with only 3 officers manning the booth for almost 300 passengers. I'm having kids with me and while we can be patience, our kids not. It was hot and the only thing we wanted then was to get out from the airport soonest as we can. We finally pass the immigration and our luggages were the last on the belt. They even put a signage before our bags that it was the last luggage. The que start again right after the luggage belt when only one entrance provided for exit and that did not help either. We almost reached the exit before a guy finally open up another exit. I heard a guy talking behind me that in here, everything are so relaxed or take your time. I won't see anything like this in KL where even with a good airport, everybody just want to get out as quickly as possible. It's not KL by the way, so just sit back, relax and enjoy the que.
It was already dark when we finally out. The outside did not help either. It was jampacked with people and choatic. We met our driver and he asked whether we would like to follow him to the car or waited there at the kerbside. We asked where he parked his car and he said it is near. Ok we said, we will wait here. It was a fatal mistake. The car was near but in order to exit, he has to make a circle down the terminal before he can reached us. We waited again for almost 40 minutes before he finally arrived with his car. We just lip crossed by the time he arrived and jump into the car. We were drenched in sweat and our kids seem can't hold it any longer. We were told that there would passibly traffic standstill somewhere near the city and the driver told us it might took another hour to reached the hotel. I miss KL the time he told us that.
The hotel - Harris Kelapa Gading
Found this hotel while browsing the net and so attracted with the orange scheme. Check in was smooth, seems like they have anticipated our arival, and the first thing the guy at the reception asked us was 'Sir, how was the traffic?', okey I should know this earlier but the traffic jam was beyond my contemplation. He added 'You have arrived in Jakarta on the wrong day...'. I did not know what to reply but if i can summarize the experience, it worst.
The hotel room was spacious, it's a new hotel and everything was gleaming brand new. There is a mall attached which make it easier for us to look for dinner and everything was ok. We scour the mall a while before it closed and we could only cover mall no 3. There are 5 malls attached and I think we probably need a whole day just to visit every mall. The next morning we woke up early and the breakfast was excellent. I got nothing to complain except if we could have more time sampling all the dishes. There even a lady offering a traditional drink and perhaps I should tried it some other day.
Overall, Harris is excellent. must come here again.
Next is our journey to Bandung using the tolled highway but I think i'll cover that up in other entry.
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