We decided to celebrate Hari Raya in Perth, to be with Nina. We could not get tickets with the commercial airlines like MAS, Qantas or Royal Brunei. So, we decided to go on budget airlines. It would be Kuala Lumpur-Johor Bahru–Singapore-Perth round trip. The journey that normally takes 5 hours would now take 13 hours. Celebrating Hari Raya with our only daughter was worth the long journey.
We took the first Air Asia flight to JB, just to make sure it would be on time. Normally, Air Asia would not have any delay for the first flight out of LCCT. We could not afford to miss SIN – PER flight at 3.50pm. We had a comfortable six hour gap.
We were doing well on our timing, too well in fact. We took a cab to Singapore’s Changi Airport Budget Terminal. There was nothing much at the budget terminal, except for the cafeteria. It was the 28th day of fasting that made our 6-hour wait more agonizing. The check in counter only opened 2 hours before departure.
The queue started way before the 2 hours check in time. As it got longer, we decided to get in line. After obtaining our boarding passes, then only we could get to the waiting lounge inside. At least, there were places to hang out.
It looked like a full flight. We thought of trying to be among the first to board to make sure we got to sit together. To our embarrassment and disappointment, unlike Air Asia, Tiger Airways had all the seats assigned to the passengers as we checked in. We were so used to Air Asia, we thought it was free seating for any budget flight. A Malay stewardess pointed us to row 23, our assigned seats.
The flight was full with returning Australians, Singaporeans and what looked like 2 Malay families. When things were settling down, a baby from row 21 left started to scream at the top of its voice. It lasted for a good one hour. Then, when it appeared to be a brief respite, another baby from row 21 right continued the wailing contest. I tried to dig myself deep into The Chicken Soup for the Golfers’ Soul to pass the time.
There were a few bald headed Australian ladies dressed in Buddhist monks’ attire in row 22. I was impressed with how they become so deeply religious in a religion alien to the western culture. The lady in front of me caught my attention. She was literally snapping her head left to right as she was reading.
We broke fast when it appeared dark outside. The Malay stewardesses were kind enough to bring our foods when it was time to break the fast.
We reached Perth International Airport before the scheduled time. We got full clearance by the strict Australian Custom officers. It meant that Nina and her friends would get to taste the dodol, lemang, nasi himpit and various other goodies that we brought along. It was a gamble on our part and we got through. Nina and her friends were already waiting for us. It was a moving experience to see the way Anas rushed to Nina’s waiting arms and embraced his sister.
It was worth everything coming to Perth to see our 2 children together again.
We took the first Air Asia flight to JB, just to make sure it would be on time. Normally, Air Asia would not have any delay for the first flight out of LCCT. We could not afford to miss SIN – PER flight at 3.50pm. We had a comfortable six hour gap.
We were doing well on our timing, too well in fact. We took a cab to Singapore’s Changi Airport Budget Terminal. There was nothing much at the budget terminal, except for the cafeteria. It was the 28th day of fasting that made our 6-hour wait more agonizing. The check in counter only opened 2 hours before departure.
The queue started way before the 2 hours check in time. As it got longer, we decided to get in line. After obtaining our boarding passes, then only we could get to the waiting lounge inside. At least, there were places to hang out.
It looked like a full flight. We thought of trying to be among the first to board to make sure we got to sit together. To our embarrassment and disappointment, unlike Air Asia, Tiger Airways had all the seats assigned to the passengers as we checked in. We were so used to Air Asia, we thought it was free seating for any budget flight. A Malay stewardess pointed us to row 23, our assigned seats.
The flight was full with returning Australians, Singaporeans and what looked like 2 Malay families. When things were settling down, a baby from row 21 left started to scream at the top of its voice. It lasted for a good one hour. Then, when it appeared to be a brief respite, another baby from row 21 right continued the wailing contest. I tried to dig myself deep into The Chicken Soup for the Golfers’ Soul to pass the time.
There were a few bald headed Australian ladies dressed in Buddhist monks’ attire in row 22. I was impressed with how they become so deeply religious in a religion alien to the western culture. The lady in front of me caught my attention. She was literally snapping her head left to right as she was reading.
We broke fast when it appeared dark outside. The Malay stewardesses were kind enough to bring our foods when it was time to break the fast.
We reached Perth International Airport before the scheduled time. We got full clearance by the strict Australian Custom officers. It meant that Nina and her friends would get to taste the dodol, lemang, nasi himpit and various other goodies that we brought along. It was a gamble on our part and we got through. Nina and her friends were already waiting for us. It was a moving experience to see the way Anas rushed to Nina’s waiting arms and embraced his sister.
It was worth everything coming to Perth to see our 2 children together again.
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