Recap - 2015 Home Trip - Part 1

Last month, my husband and I, along with my brother went to visit our families in Malaysia and Indonesia for a little less than a month. Nothing is more beautiful than being with our loved ones. My husband and I left about a week prior to my brother's departure, as we need to visit my in-laws in Malaysia.

Our trip started on Thursday, May 28, when we departed from NY-JFK at 8:55pm EST with Singapore Airlines.

While getting stuck at traffic on the way to JFK airport :)

At I-678 South, reaching JFK

We drove from home around 4:30pm-ish to make it there at 6pm. However, the traffic was horrendous that time, more than I predicted. We made it to JFK around 6:30pm, and rushed to the gate to check in once we parked the car, and got ourselves a free trolley ^-^. The trolley fee at JFK has now raised from $5 to $6 each.

The checked-in process was pretty smooth. We, however, had to gate checked one of our carry-ons as it was heavier than 7 kg, and it, somehow, was mistakenly left in Singapore during our transit there. But thankfully we got it back only a few days later in Jakarta.

The queue at the JFK Airport Security

The plane was full house this time, and we ended up sitting at the middle 4 row-seat from New York - Frankfurt - Singapore. The flight from New York to Frankfurt, Germany was about 7 hours, and we got there around 10am-ish, and took off again for a longer flight to Singapore around 12pm-ish. It took about 12 hours to arrive in Singapore, which was around 6:30am-ish. I was very relieved once we landed in Singapore, for I was sick during the whole flight this time. I could not eat anything and throw-ups so many times on the plane. However, since I did not eat anything during the flight, this helped me a lot to recover from my jet-lag, which proved the article I once read online.

We arrived in Jakarta on Saturday, May 30th, at 10:10am. After we reported our lost luggage, we directly went to the taxi service at the airport and head to the hotel. The taxi fare was Rp. 300.000 flat rate for an Innova minivan. I was pleased with this taxi service, though the fare was a little bit too much, but I can't complain since it was my first experience taking a cab in Jakarta without being accompanied by a local friend/family. We got to the hotel around 45 mins later.

I was very excited in Jakarta for I was meeting some new people I met thru blogging. However, since I was somehow not quite ready when they came right after I checked-in, I didn't even remember to take some pictures with any of them. -_- . Thank you so much Carolina for your great help with our luggages, and Evita. Thank you both for sparing your time to meet me there despite of your busy schedule and heavy traffic in Jakarta. Hope we can meet again someday to at least post for some pics ;)

Around 5pm-ish, my husband and I took some quick stroll around the hotel area, mainly to look around for dinner. It was not easy to cross the streets there, so we just went to nearby food depot, and ordered 2 simple nasi padang for dinner, which cost about Rp. 12.500 each (approx. USD $1). So cheap, huh?!? It tastes good too!! :)

First meal in Indonesia - Nasi Ayam Padang ;)

The next day, we went to the GRII - Gereja Reformed Injili Indonesia - for the 9am Sunday service. So, at 7:30, my friend took us to eat Bakmi Gang Kelinci, before we headed to church. It was such a very delicious noodle that I had always been dreaming to eat here in NY.

Bakmi Gang Kelinci

"There is something about childhood friend that can't be replaced" - Lisa Whelchel

I really admire this church and the works they do. They are singing a Latin song without a text (sadly, can't remember its title)

That Sunday, Dr. Stephen Tong happened to preach on Psalms 16:1-6 (The Lord is my inheritance). I am always moved with his sermon. There was one of Dr. Tong's childhood stories that he shared with us, which I found funny, and yet had very good biblical teaching in it. It was about a plane that was running out of gas. It was in the early 1900's when airplane was still very newly started. In order for them to survive, the weight of the plane must be lightened. So, the pilot gave an instruction to the passengers to reduce the weight by throwing their heavy belongings. At first, it was only hats, shoes, and other light stuff that were thrown. So, second instruction is announced that the plane was still too heavy. Then, they started throwing their clothes, glasses, etc, and still keeping their valuable stuff, such as gold, Rolex watch, etc. A final instruction given, that the plane still needed to reduce 70 kg. So, if there's anyone weigh 70 kg or more, who is willing to sacrifice him/herself, the rest of the people on the plane would be saved. There was, then, someone who was willing to jump out of the plane with 2 conditions - being given a parachute and a thousand dollars. After collecting the money from the other occupants, he started to jump. Unfortunately, his parachute didn't open, and he ended died in pieces with all the money that was no where to be found.

That Sunday afternoon, after the service, my husband went to see to the GRII museum, which is only opened on Sundays. Since we had gone there before, and the short time we had in Jakarta, I decided to go with my friend to Mangga Dua Mall instead to look for souvenirs and some delicious local food, and of course some catching up to do. I really recommend this GRII museum for anyone who is eager to learn about art and some world history, despite that most of the collections are only copies. It is categorized into 2 parts, the Western and Eastern. The ticket price is Rp. 100.000 / person. And it is only opened until 2pm. In 2013, the first time my husband and I went there, there was a rule that every visitor must be accompanied by a guide, who would explain to us in details of the artifacts there. And there are 3 available languages we could choose, Indonesia, Chinese, or English. However, my husband told me that no guide is required to show around visitors of the museum this time, unless being requested, with no extra charge. Also, note that no picture or video is allowed inside the museum.

Below are some pictures of food I ate at Mangga Dua Mall.

Tahu Genjrot - Mangga Dua Mall

Es Teler - Mangga Dua Mall

Siomay Bandung - Mangga Dua Mall

We left Jakarta on Monday, June 1 at 4:30pm-ish. The weather was very cloudy with some rain in the afternoon. I was a little worried if it would affect our flight to Penang. However, it started to clear out around 3pm-ish.

Real Padang Food - last meal in Jakarta before heading to Penang

Bye-bye Jakarta - till we meet again. (Picture taken at my friend's house on our way to the airport)

Soli Deo Gloria