1. Arrivals Wed 14 April 2010 19:30-21:00
What do you do when you're running a country with some of the longest customs queues in the world? Slow them down, of course!
Since 1 April they are taking fingerprints and photos of everyone arriving in Jakarta. This makes each person about 4 times longer to process, with all the requisite confusions and clumsiness that comes with it.
I've been through 3 times this month and it's painful. Childbirth painful. There are no extra counters or staff, so the queues now stretch further than ever.
My last queue stretched back, almost to the plane
This chaotic archipelago of over 17,000 islands has some of the worst border patrols in the world. People can wander in from almost anywhere—sea or land—via large stretches of unprotected borders. Someone got bored with this problem and decided to spend all their pocket money on dragging Jakarta into the 21st century. Lipstick on the pig.
2. Departures Thu 22 April 2010 04:00-05:45
Last Thursday was the first time I have ever (ever) forgotten to set an alarm or wake-up call for an early flight. My flight was the usual 6:15am, meaning that I aim to check out of the hotel by 3:45am.
I fell asleep watching tv and dreamt it was already 8am and I had missed my flight. This woke me up with a startle and a quick check of the watch. It was 4:00am so I tore out of bed.
Once this mini panic was over, I felt tireder than ever as I settled into my queuing routines.
The customs queue was less painful than arrivals - more miscarriage than childbirth - and afterwards I stopped at Starbucks for a coffee.
I smiled as I read this sign, imagining nasty empowered customers with strong throwing arms.
It's a messy promise.
3. Transit Thu 22 April 2010 08:45-09:45
I took this photo at Changi Airport.
It is a gaggle of Singapore Airlines crew members, heading to the T2 shuttle train.
"I'm gonna fuckin' flip if I have to go through another flight without enough napkins."
It's not a good photo but something about it describes how I feel on these mornings ... stumbling around aimlessly in transit after an early flight and a couple of hours sleep.
I stood next to them on the shuttle, listening as they compared volcano stories from European legs.
