Xmas in the tropics...

5AM 22nd of December 2005

I guess this is no one’s fault except my own, but I sitting on a cold tile floor – waiting to be deported from Jakarta on the first plane back to Singapore.

I spent the night in a Nursery (basically a small room with some broken chairs) with two para-athletes and a Nigerian teacher. We all have different reasons for being thrown out of the country. This is mine.

See – my passport is valid, but only for another 4 months and (and I didn’t know this) for entry into Indonesia you need at least 6 months valid on your passport.

I found this out at 10:15pm on the 21st of December.

I’m in Jakarta to see my girlfriend. We’ve never actually met before – but like most modern day romances – we really hit if off through the use of Internet and phone. I had been planning to do something different this year for Xmas, but was never sure what. This all came kinda out of the blue and here I am.

I did get to meet Yhantie for maybe 15 minutes at the immigration checkpoint. Not exactly the romantic evening I had hoped for.

Bless that wonderful girl, she did all the pleading with the officials she could to try and get me into the country. She shouldn’t have even been allowed anywhere near the immigration checkpoint. She’s a young and as tough as they come and worth doing anything to try and get back into the country for.

There is at the moment 1 plan and multiple possible ways to play it. I guess by the time I post this – I’ll know if it worked.

The plan is to go back to S’Pore – argue with the airline for letting me on a flight it was obvious I wouldn’t be able to enter the country on and get them to let me go to the British Embassy in S’Pore where I can either extend my passport or renew it.

I only really know one person in S’Pore who could help me (he works for the company and I was out in Japan recently). He got a phone call from me about 1:30am and naturally didn’t pick up but I left a voice mail. I’m hoping he knows someone at the Embassy who can speed through my plea.

Yhantie has a friend at the Indonesian Embassy in S’Pore and in on the phone to her right now. We’re hoping they can give us some advice, or give us a name of someone to talk to.

To top everything – the screen on my every wonderful Cell Phone has cracked and I can’t really use it. I’m dialling blind and can’t ready any txts I get.



6AM 22nd of December 2005

I’m deported. I was thinking I would never get out of here to try and sort out the whole passport mess – but at the last minute they put me on a flight back to Singapore. I can hopefully catch 30 minutes sleep and finally eat and drink something.

9AM 22nd of December 2005

I land back in Singapore and I’m met by a S’Pore airlines rep. They were REALLY helpful. Had got me the address of the British Embassy and didn’t charge me for the flight back. They also said if I have to pay for my return ticket to Jakarta (YES – I am planning on returning TODAY) then I should claim it back later.

10:30AM 22nd of December 2005

I’m at the British Embassy and they at first tell me it is going to take a few days (plus Xmas) to get a new passport. I tell the lady my sob story. She disappears around the back and 5 minutes later she tells me they are going to try and rush it through today. One of them is going to work through their lunch hour to get it done.

Yhantie had been pulling strings her end by calling her friend at the Indonesian Embassy here in S’Pore.

Maybe it was that – maybe it was me just being the nice guy I am that won them over. I’m not sure. Barns and Asuka were taking in the piss out of me for ‘flirting’ with the guy from BT as I was setting up the new phone in my house. I’m just nice to people. That’s who I am.

I went across the road to the mall to get some new pictures and some cash money to pay for the passport.

They say it will be ready by 4pm – but to call at 3pm to see if there are any problems. I am hoping and preying there won’t be any – but now that fact that I have just moved house and I don’t really have any evidence (like council tax) that I live there might screw things up!!

11:30AM 22nd of December 2005

I’m sat in a noodle bar finally having some lunch. It’s storming outside. I only know 3 people in Singapore and had I know I was going to be here for more than a change of planes I would have got in touch with them. As it is – I got three and a half hours to kill before I find out if I can get back into Jakarta.





2:20PM 22nd of December 2005

Just got a call from the Embassy. MY PASSPORT IS READY!!! Having spent the last few hours filling time and (ending up stealing McDonalds wireless net) I can head back to the airport. I gave the passport woman a tin of biscuits (sorry Hanny - they were meant to be for you) to say thank you for helping me in my hours of need.

4:00PM 22nd of December 2005

I'm checked in and sitting in the Priority Pass lounge and stealing their interent. I have my ticket and my new passport. Apparently I have to apply for a Visa when I land. That worries me a little. What if they say no? Do I get deported again? Surely I've done enough today so they can let me in and spend Xmas with my girlfriend.

This has been the most crazy trip I've ever had. All in it will have taken me 38 hours from take off at London Heathrow to hopefully land and get into Jakarta.

Singapore Changi Airport is very nice and this lounge is great. I spent a couple hours here the first time I was going to JK and took a shower and everything. This time - I'm thinking I've spent so long in the same clothes I don't think a shower is gonna help.

I'll post some pitures of the Singapore airport later.

5:45PM 22nd of December 2005

I just realised I have been in the same clothes (and slept in the same clothes) for over 48 hours! I feel very funky. Off to get my flight.

More as it happens... Hopefully the rest of this trip will be drama free.

Nic.

posted by Nic @ 3:58 AM 3 comments