Via Jakarta
Miriam dropped us at the airport with ample time. After a quick scare at the check in counter, where the staff did not know about the Indonesian Visa on Arrival and I was scared not be let on the plane – again, we boarded a PAL flight to Jakarta.
The flight went over Laguna, providing a nice view of Lake Taal, and then over Apo Reef.
Jakarta International Airport
Visa on arrival took 5 minutes, and was online linked to my passport data within seconds. With a slight change of my gender.
„Dear Customer :
Mrs. MARTIN GUMMERT,
Your Limited Stay Permit has been issued.
Find attachment below to download your Limited Stay Permit.“The immigration has 50 (!) automated lines, there is only one immigration officer, trouble shooting. Mrs. Martin Gummert was waved through by the robot in 3 minutes. The real Mrs Gummert took a bit longer because she did not need a visa but then had to fill out an online form manually before being able to go through Robot Immigration.
I was sort of looking forward to the old, brick terminal building, which I used to like a lot because it was unique. But our arrival and departure terminal is new, massive and not unique anymore. I guess that is called progress.
Four hours waiting time between flights, we had to claim our luggage and check in again for the domestic flight to Makassar.
All in all a very pleasant travel experience, compared to the disaster with the Qantas flights earlier this month.