Touch down Jakarta. My 8:45 pm flight from Manila to Jakarta departed and arrived perfectly on time and I am not the least bit happy about it. For one I am arriving at a foreign country by myself without anybody to pick me up. Second, I don't know a single soul in Jakarta and the entire Indonesian archipelago. Third, I arrived at 11:30 pm. And last and definitely the worst, I need to wait for the first Damri bus to Gambir which is scheduled to arrive at 5:30 am. Damn you Cebu Pacific, only offering late night flights to Jakarta and arriving 30 minutes earlier than the ETA.
First things first, text my family that I arrived safely. Hell no, my cellphone's international roaming was not working. Maybe I can try skype or email. Another big no, there's no wifi at the airport. Now what? I am alone at the arrival hall while the passengers from the same flight are welcomed by their friends and families with huge smiles and air-conditioned cars.
One by one they left as the airport turns into a ghost town. Except there were no ghosts. I was surrounded by pushy, aggressive and downright annoying touts. I've heard of them and I'm ready for them. Just look straight and walk away. Avoid eye contact at all costs. Nope, it didn't happen. They were hovering around me like bees talking crap until I stopped walking aimlessly because I seriously didn't know where I was going.