Kota Tangerang, Indonesia

First flight done First leg – Garuda Indonesia flight 713, Sydney to Jakarta. (On an A330-200 if anyone’s keeping track!) I have say I’m really glad we sprung for business class – seats are wide enough and even if I stretch out I can’t touch the wall in front of me – Perry was the same, that’s how you know there was plenty of space!

We were welcomed with a fancy L’Occitane amenity pack with slippers and the usual lotions, potions, and an eye mask. Next minute someone was along to take our order for “post-takeoff drinks”. Very nice. After a while taxiing (am I the only one that always falls asleep as soon as taxiing begins?) we were up up and away. If ever someone was to ask me what “billecart salmon” was, my first thought would be some fish delivered by rudimentary wheeled transport, probably running down a hill and steered by a rope. But no, apparently it’s a brand of champagne, delivered (in actual glass) just after takeoff. Served with a tiny pastry case of olive and sundried tomato. Being served a glass is one thing, but one a cloth napkin? I’m more used to the good old Qantas economy cardboard box of food and a tiny can of soft drink, so this level of service is really impressive. Less impressive is the wi-fi on board, $10 for 10MB, which would be enough for uploading one or two photos to Facebook and then it’d all be over. So I will wait until we’re back on solid ground before uploading this entry. Things I’ve learned so far: “Would you be continuing the service?” actually means “more champagne?” The flight was an uneventful (which is good!) 7 hours 50 mins , food was delicious, even the bonus tofu satay which I’m still not sure was delivered by plan or by accident. Then a few short hours later it was time for more food, but even I couldn’t fit it in. Now we’re all here safe and sound in Jakarta, resting in the Garuda Lounge – our temporary home for the next five hours til the next flights. (2 hours to Singapore, then the killer 14 hours to Amsterdam). Hopefully my ears will ‘pop’ back to normality before then!