From Bandung to Malang
Another intercity travel after a while
I do not quite remember when my last intercity travel, but I am really sure that it was not this June. I believe it might be in May or earlier. So, this story is about my newest and first intercity travel in June 2025, which has different feature than similar story I wrote. I will keep the images to minimum and focus on the text, as far as I can resist the desire in including not so important images, that is just for lengthening the story.
Travel
I use again the Cititrans as the travel to come to the airport. It is already felt like a very long time or forever that the city named Bandung do not operate public airport. Between the two available alternatives, Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta is the best choice compared to Kertajati airport for many reasons.
A minute to four the vehicle leaves Dipati Ukur pick up point, where I board to it. Only 3–4 passangers at that time, the rest are waiting at the next pick up point. At about 0419 the CT182 leaves the Pasteur pick up point and goes straight to the toll way. In general CT182 departs very punctual according to the schedule.
CT303 is the ehicle number that is written on the receipt. This might be different than displayed on the screen. I do not notice carefully whether the last of those two numbers matched to the vehicle I use, but I am certaint that it is not the first.
Bumping
The road segment named MBZ, where it is a upper layer of toll way, is still the same. I do not know the right term fot it, but the connection between two adjacent parts is unmatched, so you have sort of periodic bumping. It is the same feeling that you have when use the train (not the high speed one).
Perhaps there is a driving technique that can reduce the effect. Reckless and uncomforable driving way will amplify the bumping experience. An advice for passangers, try to fall asleep to the deep state before entering the MBZ, so you will enjoy the trip. Otherwise to prevent some unwanted things, do not eat too much. Full stomach and nearly periodic bumping are not a good combination to expeience in a car trip.
Other than the bumping, the driver is performing efficient driving, which is constant speed and safe. As I notice there is not any zigzag motion observed. By the way it is now 0551 and going down after the MBZ.
You can feel the difference as it is down to earth. It is so smooth. Previous sensible vibration disappears and only small rippled vibration is sensed. It is like you have been released from a hectic situation to a quiet one. If not hyperbolic I would say that it is like entering a meditation state.
Halim
KCIC Halim station is seen on the right at about 0559. I have plan to use it. Perhaps for the return trip. But I still have to find information how to get to the Halim station from Soekarno-Hatta airport. A colleague of mine informs that a shuttle bus available for that.
It is been more tha a while that I want to use that transportation mode but there is not any strong and sufficient reason. Event in my assigment the transportation cost will be covered via reimbursement, but the route is not effective.
Maybe it is the time to use. The first time to experience it, where nearly all of my colleagues have already used it. The cheapest ticket is comparable to other transportation mode. But the most expensive unfortunately not. What I do not know is the availability of the cheapest one.
Airport
It arrives at 0628 on 1B Terminal and 1–2 passangers depart. I do not remember exactly. Then it drops me on 2D Terminal in about next five minutes. Due to the previously mentioned vibration and too cool temperature, my first destination is the rest room. After departing, entering via an immediate automatic door, turn right, leaving the air conditioned room and there is a rest room on the left. It is in the area without air conditioner, like a hub between two adjacent air conditioned rooms.
Then I perform the check-in on counter 34–40 and take 38 since there are only two foreign tourists. But it was a bad choice. I hear not so clear that they have connecting flights until Labuan Bajo (?), which makes the lady behind the desk must do some coirdination. I assume to provide them with convenient luggage service, not to take and then drop their stuffs at every connecting points. But this slows others as compared to the queue on the counter 37. Some of them come after I stay in the line, but they queue are processed faster. Another observation, that counter 39 is closed while accepting a lot of styrofoam boxes. I assume they are foods that requires cool termperature.
Then I get the second round in the other rest room. I walk around first to get the available one on the way to Waiting Lounge D3. Then go back to the rest room in the direction to En Waiting Lounge.
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Aftet third round on D3 rest room, which is the most comfortable, announcement tells that it moves to D4. Walk through encircled corridor is better than from D3 go to the center first then enter the D4. It is now about 0835 and there is queue built for departure.
Seat
It is now 0843 and I am on the seat 22C. It should be on 22A with window view, but two old ladies are already on 22A and 22B. There are also second and third generation on 22D and 22E. I offer to stay as is since I like the aisle seat better due to intermittent nature call. So the current condition and I board not so immediate is a good decision.
There are still some unoccupied seats, e.g. 21B, 21E, 20B, 20E, 23A, 23B, 23E, and others. Consider today is the last day of five days holyday, there are not too many people back to work on Tuesday to Malang.
Safety induction is conduction by the stewards from row 17 forward. There are one on early row for economic class and one dedicated for business class, which has only maximum five rows. I do not observe it precisely.
The plane is moving at 0901 and the journey will be about one hour. I hope I can have a good sleep while flying. Wake up very early this morning makes me exhausted, if the term used not so exaggerated. It turns several times. Bumped several times, not so frequent but with greater amplitude compare to the car while on MBZ. It stops at 0909 and waits. No additional information. Captain informs flight attendance to the station (?), then it moves. And stops again at 0911. It starts to fly. Inertial force is sensed. And it is leaving the ground at 0912.
This line will be the last one I write while in Jakarta airport. From this line forward it will be written in Malang airport and other places after that.
Landing
At about 1028 a crew thanks the passengers on behalf of the captain Yuriko Hanaka. I just can believe what I hear. So, listen carefully the announcement repeated in English after the first in Indonesian. And it is confirmed. The name sounds Japanese, right? Or it is just local people with Japanese-like name? Iam not sure. Just record it in this story. The flight is ID 6566 Batik Air departure 0855 from CGH to MLG.
By the way the plan lands with a bump, which is very pronounced hard, the most hard I have ever experienced. Fortunately all are safe anf the plane can park to its designated position.
Lunch
I am picked up by two colleagues and we visit Ocean Garden that serves various spicy menu. The word Pontianak is dangerous, it indicates the hottest level available. It is beyond my ability to tolerate the spiciness. You might like it but not me. It is already beyond enjoyable limit.
After you order some food, the rice, sambal (various chile sausces), and lalap (sort of salad vegetables) are free or all you can eat. There are sambal mangga, hijau, bajak, kecap, bawang, etc.
Hotel
Final destination for today is Malang Swiss-Belinn, the hotel where I will stay during this bussiness trip. It is located near two malls, where you can easily find food from 0900 until 2100.
The pool is adequate, room is acceptable but rather small, hot shower is available, TV remote is a little bit difficult to operate, breakfast will be tried tomorrow morning, room air conditioner is cool. There are two bottles of mineral water with compliments from the hotel. There is laundry service for every piece or for each kilogram clothes.
Dinner
Last activity today is having dinner at Lafayette Coffee & Eatery. I am so full after the event. Samosa, Nasi Goreng, Fried Salmon with French Fries with Salad, and Iced Lemon with Soda are good combination to end the day.
One of the code is visitors should wear a proper dress, polite in some culture and not too open. Parking place is the problem, but there is valet service provided to overcome this. The parking guys will find availabe spot for your car. You just arrive, drop all passenger, and let them help you.
Closing
It is 2037 and this story ends here while watching The Italian Job (2003) on hotel TV, in which the actors arw still young.
