Jakarta & Price Hike Rally

Us in Soekarno Airport waiting for our flight..

The result of our shopping spree..

I am contemplating whether should I proceed my trip to Jakarta or cancel it. My hubby and Asam keep on getting to my nerve by saying, just stay, DON'T GO!!. Your life is more important than the errands. Which is true but having a hectic schedule I can't afford to take more leave. For your information, beside being a wife, mother of 2 and daughter to a very understanding parents, I am a Programme Manager for an established international world class hotel chain (Perghhh.. Dear Mr Managing Director(s), kindly pay me double for the statement - hehe..) + Managing Director of Marshella (which currently are going to launch 2 new clothing brands in this middle of April). I am really busy.

So I proceed with the trip. Ya Allah, please bless our trip.

The rally was "that" bad, REALLY BAD! I was informed by my hubby that in Malaysia the TV station did not revealed the whole incident like my description (we update each other through WhatsApp) but in Indonesia we was fed by the "real" scenario. It was TERRIBLE to watched the "mahasiswa's" be beaten, live on TV (diorang ni pon satu, ikut perasaan sangat). There was few incident, the police shoots to the protesters.

I have a very short trip, 3D2N but I can't wait to be back on the second day. This time my luggage weight is 50kg only (most of my trip I upgrade 70kg for 2 pax). I enjoyed the shopping but not whole heartedly. I am worried about our safety. Luckily enough our hotel is near by with Tanah Abang (and the rally spot). Memang bahaya, but this new hotel location not as bad as my previous stays.

On our last day, we went early to the airport. We arrived around 1pm (our flight at 8.30pm). So many obstacle happen during this trip. I asked my sister to upgrade my luggage through online and she tried to do it many times but not avail so when I check in my flight, I was informed that no luggage was upgraded. WHAT??? You must be joking! How on earth I am bringing back this 6 bags (with cheaper rates?).

Great mind think alike, before I contact my hubby, he rang me. "Yang, your sister tried to upgrade your luggage and failed". I already figure that out. Not a good news, of course. I walk to Air Asia office to do the upgrade and later found out I have no enough Rupiah. Ok, now I am really upset. Total for 50kg is IDR290k (MYR97.73). I have IDR100k. If I want to pay using MYR currency they asked me to pay MYR126 (I just love numbers). I asked them the nearest money changer and for the third time in this trip I change my MYR money. It is enough to pay the luggage fee and we still have over IDR240k to spend. Yeayyyyy (not!).

We ate our lunch and after that Pippa insist we "lepak" at JCo. She craving the sweet doughnut (she actually love spending my money to the last bit). After "lepak" 2 hours in JCo, I am getting bored. So I told her why not change the "lepak" venue at our usual cafe, upstairs.

This is when a couple coming to us and asked if they can borrow our money? We only have MYR100+ and IDR100k+ in our hand. Enough to survive until dinner and for our Malaysia transport fees. I told them that was the only money we had. They said they only have ATM and credit cards (which can't be used in Indonesia as they didn't inform their bank). Never knew they have to pay levi to go out from Indonesia. This is their first time. I suddenly recall their faces immediately. They stayed in our hotel! No wonder looks familiar.

Without hesitate we give them them the money and we only left with MYR19. Enough to take bus to KL Sentral. They thank us may times and asked my contact number. I gave my number but did not asked theirs. Their flight at 8pm. They said they will bank in immediately once they reached KL. I said no worries.

Exactly at 11.45pm (once arrived in the airport), I received sms from the couple. Thanks us again and ask our bank account. We replied next day and within 10 mins they bank in our money.

Remember I wrote that this trip is full of obstacles? Yup, this is the best part. We was stop by Malaysia Custom and they asked us to declare the luggage's worth. F***! Before getting our luggage's, few times Pippa asked me to separate the 6 luggage's to 2 trolleys. Being lazy as usual, I said no. We ended up in their office for 45mins. I stubbornly said I will not paying any of the tax. They never put up any proper signage that quite number of items will be tax impose. From asking us to pay MYR300 (10% from the MYR3000 worth) and later was reduce to MYR150, MYR100 and lastly MYR50). I still said NO!

Pippa being Pippa, not up to the argument. She quietly said that she will pay the tax. I roll my eyes with this girl. Fine, I told her get the receipt as I am not going to pay any non sense "duit kopi".

To cut this short, we safely arrived home at 2am in HUNGRY mode. Hehe.. My hubby being very sweet, he "tapaw" us Nasi Arab (lamb for me, chic for Pippa) and we felt loveeeed..