Made it to Indonesia!

"CX 777 Jakarta..." read the departure screen in the Hong Kong airport, "...canceled."

Oh no. I had known this was a possibility, because several flights into Jakarta had been canceled recently because of the volcanic ash from Mt. Merapi. But now it had happened. What next?

I joined the other affected travelers clustered around the airline service desk to listen to the announcements being given out. They did not know how long it would be until they could resume flights, but in the meantime, we would each get a green sticker on our shoulders, go downstairs to claim our baggage & proceed through immigration, and be checked in to the adjoining hotel.

We ended up staying in Hong Kong for 24 hours, during which time we were cared for with meal vouchers & comfortable accommodations. The Regal Airport Hotel has been declared the best airport hotel in the world for three years running.

November 11, the day after I expected to fly to Jakarata, I boarded a plane bound for Indonesia. We landed safely and without incident, and a taxi driver bustled me off to the other terminal to arrange my ticket & catch my next domestic flight. Now, here I was, safely in the gate waiting area for my final flight of the first leg of my journey, and realizing that I had no way to contact anyone to come and pick me up.

Just before leaving Hong Kong, I had e-mailed my hosts to say that I was planning to leave Hong Kong and I'd keep them posted on my journey. However, upon arrival in the Jakarta domestic airport, I could find no internet access or pay phone. I asked an "information" woman at the airport, who said they might have such a thing at the international terminal, but not here.

Hmm...would my friends assume I was coming if they didn't hear anything different from me? I hoped so. And prayed that they would come to get me at the airport. If not, I figured, I could maybe ask a taxi driver if I could 'rent' his phone to call them...

It turned out that they did assume I was coming, and even checked the passenger list to see which flight I would be on.

I was so glad to be met at the airport, with my luggage, and make it safely to my first home away from home!