NIGHT FALLS OVER JAKARTA
by Bastiaan Opdenkelder December 2022What you are about to read are our personal experiences during the December 2021 travel to Indonesia, and subsequently the 10-day government of Indonesia ordered quarantine in an approved hotel in Jakarta.
Our experiences do not prove in any way that every quarantine hotel guest have received the same treatment during the COVID-19 quarantine period in 2021/2022.
In the final pages of this booklet I have collected some data on how other travelers experienced their quarantine in a hotel, and arriving at their designated airports. Bastiaan Opdenkelder
Afteryears of visiting Bali, usually for a month or two, Louise and I decided that it would be in our best interest to rent a villa this time. Our plan for the years ahead were to visit longer than two months. Our main goal has always been to bring much needed financial support to the people on the Island of the Gods. We were able to find a villa and reserved it for two years, with an option for five, starting August 1, 2021.
Although COVID-19 was devastating to the travelling world, we were able to book a flight with KLM for December 2021 (Toronto –Amsterdam – Singapore – Denpasar (Bali).
By the end of September 2021, we received our first cancellation from KLM. They were not able to land in Singapore. This continued for another two times. We decided to cancel our flight with KLM and were able to book a flight with Air Canada on December 7 from Toronto to Vancouver – Tokyo and with Jakarta as our end destination. Flying into Denpasar, Bali, directly, was not possible during that time.
TORONTO PERSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
We left our condominium in Canada, on Tuesday, December 7, ready for a trip of about 26 hours to Jakarta. We prepared all the paperwork, such as an investment visa, double vaccinations, proof of a negative PCR test, and the hotel reservation required by the government of Indonesia.
At the time we booked this trip, the quarantine in Jakarta would be three days. But just before our trip started, we were informed that it was extended to ten days!
Our Air Canada flight was scheduled to leave at 10 am that morning from Toronto Pearson International Airport, and with a connection time of about one and a half hours at Vancouver International Airport, we would be able to board our connecting flight in time for Tokyo, Japan.
Our flight from Toronto did not leave on time. My first thoughts were oh-oh, is this going to be a problem with our connecting flight to Japan? My blood pressure was starting to elevate a bit as we waited in the airplane for takeoff. We left the gate, one hour later, at 11 am. I assumed we would pick up time on our flight, an estimated five and a half hours to Vancouver, to be able to connect with our flight to Tokyo.
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
This did not happen.
The crew on board was nervous, telling everyone that “sure there would be no problem.”
“Your connecting flights would wait for passengers, especially for you sir, on the long flight (ten hours) to Tokyo.”
As it happened so many times in situations like this, the departure gate was, in speed-walking distance, about fifteen minutes away. My wife Louise was showing signs of stress now as well. We rushed through the airport to get to that gate, where we arrived just in time, before the airplane would depart.
Now, ten of us, were looking at an unhappy service counter person. telling us that the gate was closed.
We would be rescheduled on another flight!
I was trying to bring my blood pressure down from running together with Louise and our hand luggage, through the airport. “The airplane is still there, why can’t we board?” I said.
At the gate, the sign still flickered FINAL CALL, and definitely not GATE CLOSED!
A manager from Air Canada came forward and told us that we had to follow him downstairs, so we can arrange an alternative connecting flight for you.
After pushing for answers, he told me that air traffic control decided that our flight would come in too late, to get our luggage in the airplane and therefore Air Canada decided to cancel us from this connecting flight. I know beforehand that it really does not help to give your opinion to this manager that has been ordered to give this unpopular message to the passengers that arrived too late at the gate. I am not a good listener. “But this is not OUR FAULT, the airplane from Toronto left too late!” I said. I have travelled regularly around various parts of the world during my employment and did have experienced situations like this before. But these were flights mostly within the continent of North America. Usually, the airline is courteous and helpful in preparing suitable arrangements. This gate person did not manage this very well. She wrote on one of our boarding passes a couple of flight numbers and handed it back to us. Not very helpful to understand where and what these numbers meant. Vancouver International airport is large, and you can walk for miles. With the guidance of the Air Canada manager, we were escorted back downstairs to immigration. Yes, now we needed to check back into Canada and go through the steps
like any other traveler, visiting Canada. Why? IT IS WHAT IT IS, everyone says. You all know the routine by now, scan your passports, picture page. Go to the next available immigration officer.
“Welcome to Canada.
Where did you travel from,” he asked. “We have not left the country,” I responded. “We missed our connecting flight.”
“Oh, okee. Sorry about that sir. Please proceed and go to level 3. Look for an Air Canada service counter and/or agents, they will gladly help you.” We arrived at the first Air Canada service counter in the airport. Explained our situation.
“Well, there are three places on the airport where you can check for service sir. Please, just look for the overhead signs.”
The next available airport employee told us to go to a designated area around the corner, and pick up a white phone. Louise meanwhile was looking for drinks as we were getting thirsty from all the walking, through this large airport. I found the area, and picked up a phone. “Hello,” an operator answered. “What can I do to help.”
I explained the situation to him, and he told me that he would get back to me on this phone, please do not hang up. (The tune of the tv show Jeopardy
was now running through my head, as I was on hold for at least 15 minutes).
Just my thoughts: In business you take care of customers, as your livelihood and income depends on good service, and communication. I am old school and expect that all companies and people are following these steps, for me, basic common sense. Sorry, my mistake for assuming!
As I have told my qigong meditation and Taichi students several times before. Be aware that, as an example, when you enter a hospital you are a number, and therefore try and be patient with anyone that you need for your much needed medical attention.
Customer service, this day and age, does not care so much about a ‘number ’ , as that is not a living and breathing human for them. It is so much easier now. You can choose to recognize, or forget about a customer, when other numbers (read people), show up with a higher number, especially when they have more money to spend. The music stopped, the customer service man on the phone told me that he could not do anything, as he must charge me for his service, and that the flight, which was delayed by Air Canada, was being investigated. (Do I really care about that? That was not the issue.) Well, in a strange way it is. When you arrive at a
departing gate too late, it is your own fault, and you can get your flight rescheduled for a fee, and if you need to spend the night in Vancouver, you have to pay for it yourself. Isn’t that wonderful? I thanked him for the non-service, and placed the phone ‘softly’ back on the hook. One of our fellow, ten missed a connecting flight ‘numbers,’ walked over to another counter, and asked for service. To my surprise, he got satisfaction from this service manager. Louise, and I walked over hoping for something solid as well. With an emotion free facial expression, he started to look at the available options for flights to Jakarta. He said the best way to get to Jakarta (remember we have done our 72-hours eligibility PCR tests, and if we would fly the next day they it would not been valid anymore!) was to fly with Turkish Airlines, that would depart in about four hours from now to Istanbul. It was an eleven hour flight right over the North Pole, and down from there through Europe to Turkey. There would be a stop-over, of about ten hours, and a connecting flight to Jakarta. It would take us another eleven hours to Indonesia. I said to Louise, let us do this, as I was not
looking for an extra negative situation, with our 72 hour PCR-eligibility paperwork. We went back downstairs to the counter from Turkish Airlines, to reserve our seats. Knowing that Air Canada has no control of our scheduled ‘upgraded seats’ with Turkish Airlines, I was trying to get a chair with extra leg space. After showing them our passports, vaccinations, PCR tests, visa’s to Indonesia, hotel booking, she asked for our proof of health. We needed to show them that proof before they allowed us to board their airplane to Jakarta. It is an App where you need to register on-line, and inform the government of Indonesia, that you are a healthy person. (I thought that all the paperwork and tests we had done previously, would suffice?).
So here we are trying to download this App PEDULILINDUNGI on our phone, and fill this out as without this, you are not going to be allowed pass the counter to the departing gate! Never at any time did Air Canada tell us to do this, before arriving in Indonesia. We were cleared, all the way through in Toronto, for all the paperwork needed, before we were boarding our airplane to Vancouver, and subsequently our connecting flights to Tokyo and Jakarta.
ISTANBUL AIRPORT
As a foreigner, it was a challenge to fill this out. This App was specifically made for Indonesian people. The Indonesian government should have made this easier for foreigners. In the end, I was able to complete this, with additional stress, as the line-up for this flight to Istanbul was filling up. I wanted to get in early, to go to our gate and find time for relaxation. We found another counter person to help us check in. Oh, what about our luggage? When we left the immigration area before, the luggage handlers from Air Canada, promised that the suitcases would travel with us to Jakarta, when they have the correct information on time. (It was still three hours before departure!).
The baggage handler, at the gate from Turkish Airlines, showed some real concern with us, and promised us, while a special agent from the airline who oversees checked in luggage, was standing there, guaranteed delivery of our suitcases. Travelling with us all the way to Jakarta! They took the information from our Air Canada luggage tags, and promised again, there would be no problem at all.
Louise and I, together with several other Indonesian friends, went through another security check. They took out stuff from our hand luggage, and double checked it again. Making sure they
could not find something new, that the other scanners, before them did not find?
Toronto going in, Vancouver going out, and now Vancouver going in again.
Around 9 pm we flew from the Vancouver International Airport to Istanbul, Turkey. A new, Boeing 797 airliner, with great comfort and service, brought us in eleven hours to Istanbul. We had a three-seater and extra room. The service from Turkish Airlines was great and I would recommend anyone flying to Indonesia from Toronto, Canada, to consider that option.
We entered an impressive, and modern airport. But first, going through another security check, as we are in ‘transit.’ Our hand luggage was checked, and scanned again. Our goal was to find an airport lobby, so we could find a quiet place to sit down (layover time would be about ten hours), take a shower, and have something to eat.
It is always challenging in the beginning of arriving at a new airport, to try and find where to go to. Friendly airport personnel, directed us to the IGA lobby. There was a small line-up but we were able to enter the lobby quickly, after paying 106 Euro, for both of us. It included all you can
eat, and drink, which also included alcoholic beverages. Finally, light in the end of the tunnel of this, so far, stressful trip. We found a spot to lay down on curved beds, and started to organize ourselves. Louise took a shower, and changed her outfit, we had taken with us in the hand luggage, and I went to the bar, and picked up a couple of refreshing cold, Turkish draft beer. Louise went browsing after my return, and got fresh fruits, healthy salads, and snacks. We asked a young traveler to help us with the airport log-in for Wi-Fi. He missed his connecting flight from Germany to Azerbaijan, and was a student in Germany. A pleasant young man with some interesting cultural stories to share.
At the Istanbul airport, Louise and I were able to find a bit of relaxation before we had to board our next flight to Jakarta. Departure time 2:40 am, December 8. We walked over to our departure gate. Louise picked up a couple of bottles of Campari as the price at the tax free stores in this airport was very affordable. Our Indonesian friends, we met during the mishap in Vancouver, where there as well, waiting. Before we could board the plane, we had to go to another desk to show our paperwork once again. PCR,
visa and vaccination. Hmmm. They did not ask for that arrival in Indonesian Health Check. Remember the App we NEEDED TO PUT ON OUR PHONE!
I believe everything in this world is BS now, and anywhere anytime someone creates a new rule, to make our lives more stressful, to live peacefully on this planet!
The airplane from Turkish Airline was an older model, and although the guy in Vancouver who gave us the boarding passes, (oh, I could not upgrade remember) promised that we would have our middle seat open for our comfort.
In reality, that was not going to happen. A woman boarded the airplane, and took the middle seat in our row.
This airplane was only sixty-five percent full! It was a nice woman, and just after we took off from Istanbul, she gladly moved over to another row with empty seats. This flight would take about eleven and a half hours to end up at the Sukarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. We arrived at 6 pm Jakarta time (6 am Toronto time on December 9).
We were travelling now, without any real sleep, for forty-eight hours!
We waited for all passengers to leave the airplane first, as we knew there would be lots of time spend in immigration. Words cannot express (I am trying) the following experiences that were going to take place. When we got of the airplane we were escorted into a separate waiting area. About two hundred people in our flight, with many Indonesian citizens, and a much smaller number of foreigners. This waiting area was crowded with military people, or immigration officers. I really could not see the difference between all these ‘generals’ walking around, with stars and stripes.
There were other, not dressed as military people, government agents, asking to see your passport. Sorry to say, but we felt like ‘cattle,’ being guided through a farm. There was no concern about our age. Only woman with children were given a free pass to the front of the line. After waiting for a while, we were allowed to move up to next waiting area. “Please, sit down,” an airport employee told us. No fresh or bottled water was given either to help our dry throats moisture a bit.
JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
We moved now into Area 1. A big sign on a post in the alleyway in between the travellers, indicated that. For us that was waiting Area 3. Here they wanted to see our passport and boarding passes. (In the plane you need to fill out a form with all your info from your passport and airplane seat numbers, and the name of the airline you flew with to Jakarta). He recognized the info, and gave our paperwork to an immigration officer behind him to get also his approval for entrance to Indonesia. New paperwork was given to us to take to the next officer. Arriving at this area – let’s call it Area 4 – we had to sit down and wait again. When our turn came, a new agent asked to see our PCR test and vaccination papers. We passed that step, and were told to go to the next holding area, Area 5. Here we would get another PCR test. Without that paper proof, we received earlier, there was no moving forward to the next Area. We sat down and waited for our turn. Still no water was offered to us, and there were no stores open, to buy a bottle. Now, it is about one and a half hour after we arrived inside the airport. A medical person took our paperwork. We showed the proof that we passed waiting areas 1-4.
“Do you have confirmation from the hotel; where you booked your quarantine?” the nurse asked. “Yes,” I said, “they are waiting for us outside the airport for pick up.” (Not realizing that moment, that it was not going to be the pre-arranged route we were going to take, to get to our hotel), “No sir, you need to show me a barcode from that hotel that confirms that your booking has been made official.”
I could not show that to her, as I did not receive such a barcode from our pre-booked hotel. I did show her, in my thick file with paperwork, that the hotel was confirmed by email. “That is not acceptable. I need to see a barcoded confirmation, from the hotel sir.”
A female officer saw the stress we were in, and came to help. She offered us a bottle of water, and I gave her the hotel info. She called the hotel. Shortly thereafter, I received on my phone, the barcode that they so desperately needed. Another set of PCR tests were done. In the nose, and in the mouth. We received another piece of paper that proved to the next area, that we completed that necessary task in the previous one. Up to the next area. Where are we again, oh yes, Area 6 now. First we needed to pass another checkpoint with an officer that wanted to see our paperwork,
again. He was happy to identify that we did not sneak through the other gates. We arrived at the official immigration area now. The immigration officer needed to see our passports. I expected to be asked to show the visum to Indonesia papers here. (We arranged our investment visa prior to leaving for Indonesia with an office in Sanur, Bali) But he did not ask. Funny, nobody asked our visa papers throughout this ordeal. Even Area 1, only needed to see our passports. He approved our paperwork, and put a stamp in our passports. I have to believe that was true, but I do not have my passport now in the hotel, as they take that away from you, when you check-in. Finally, time to pick up our luggage. Remember the four suitcases we put in the airplane in Toronto, and were travelling automatically to Jakarta? Surprise, surprise. Our suitcases were not there! We found a luggage handler. Told him about the suitcases and after checking on his phone, he said, yes I have checked on my phone and did see that your suitcases are still in Istanbul. We were escorted into a small office, to fill out, missing luggage, paperwork. “Do you have the luggage tags from Turkish Airlines?” he asked.
“No,” I said, “we did not get that as they used the Air Canada luggage tags to fly them to Jakarta.”
I was able to find proof of that in my file of paperwork. Now totalling about twenty-five pieces of paper travelling together with my backpack (laptop computer and paperwork) and my hand luggage. The lost luggage office in Soekarno Hatta Airport promised to send us an immediate message when our suitcases would be found. Tomorrow?
The next control station, wanted to see our specific papers, what we filled in on board the airplane. This was for declaring special products or items you bring with you in your suitcases. “Is that all the luggage you have?” he asked. “Yes.” We told him the reasons why, and explained the mishaps with our luggage. He was not going any further with his questions. and let us pass. I was thinking, now this is it, we should be clear to go to our hotel? I was wrong again. The papers we received from the airport PCR test, will not give you an automatic approval, to go to the hotel. Nobody tells you anything. This last waiting area is full of travelers, guarded with military,
immigration and health department personnel.
How about social distancing? Did not see it. There is no way out of the airport! We were hoping that we would find our pickup guy for the hotel soon. Not so fast Bastiaan. These pickup people from the quarantine hotel, do not use signs for you to identify, who is picking up who. After waiting another thirty minutes, someone came to us and took our last PCR barcoded, test papers. “Sorry sir. You need to wait for the results first, otherwise you can’t leave the airport.”
During this ordeal I see, local people, flying through the system. The place was thinning out and only foreigners were waiting now. It is 10:30 pm local time. Calculations tells me about four and a half hours after we landed. Finally, we were given the official approval to leave the airport. As we already expected, and probably you the reader as well, our PCR tests from the airport, were negative. I forgot to tell that the MUST HAVE APP for Indonesia that the Turkish Airlines forced us to load on our cell phones, otherwise no passage into their plane, was never asked for at any time!
SARI PACIFIC HOTEL JAKARTA
We are cleared to go to our quarantine hotel Sari Pacific Jakarta (a 4-star hotel!).
An employee from the hotel guided us through military personnel control stations, outside the airport, to an area where there were government approved taxi’s waiting. We arrived in the hotel around midnight local time, and started our ten day quarantine.
After reading the first part of this travel story, you may think or say: “Why are you complaining and writing this down? You knew from the beginning before you left for Indonesia what you were going to have to endure arriving in Jakarta, right?”
Yes, I partly agree with that statement as Louise and I knew that quarantine did mean, for sure, not being able to get out of your hotel. But in my mind, I expected better living conditions, better and tastier food variations, and a more compassionate human interaction with the hotel employees? And above all else, fresh air!
Hereare our experiences from staying in quarantine for ten days, in Hotel Sari Pacific Jakarta.
We arrived at the hotel on Thursday evening, the 9th of December. That our taxi driver took more than an hour to get us to the hotel is another story on itself. (The hotel is about thirty minutes from the airport).
He told us that he knew the location of the hotel very well, but brought us to a similar name hotel, which was in another part of the city. Hmmm. Three smiling ‘bell boys’ were waiting at the side door of the hotel. Our hand luggage was taken from the taxi, and placed on a cart. for delivery to our room.
Louise asked, when we got out of the taxi in Jakarta, if she could smoke a cigarette before going to our room. The boys had no problem with that. What else was there for them to do?
I was joking with one of them, who wore an outfit, way to tight around the belly. I poked at his belly. He laughed. He continued to smile and started throwing Dutch words at me:
“Goedemorgen meneer” (it was evening).
“Alles goed ja?” (everything fine?)
“Fantastic,” I replied. I thought, why not trying to be relaxed now, The last six hours of stress are now behind us. Louise asked if we still could get food and drinks in the room this evening. We did not have anything to eat after our arrival at the airport. “No problem, ibu, our kitchen is open, and we will get you something for sure.”
The boys, who were waiting for something new and exciting to experience that evening, smoked along with Louise. She needed to talk to someone else besides myself, who has not been a positive entity around her.
The main lobby of the hotel was closed off for ‘our ’ arrival. We walked through boarded hallways and stopped before an elevator. One of the ‘bellboys and us entered the elevator for our ‘lift’ to the 14th floor. As we understood later: ‘One of the COVID-19 quarantine floors at this hotel.’ How many rooms in total? I do not know, but they were side by side in a long hallway. I could see white plastic bags in front of the doors. Laundry perhaps?
A small desk, with a smiling manager, was positioned right in front of the elevator. His desk was blocking the hallway to the rooms. “Good evening, please have a seat.”
Questions were asked, if we could proof who we were, vaccination papers, PCR test papers. We were so used to it now. These were the same questions asked many times before, after we landed at the airport in Jakarta.
Official quarantine papers needed to be signed. It was a full page of rules and regulations written by: “Komando Tugas Gabungan Terpadu Jaya” or as it said in English: Quarantine Guest Information letter. The letter started with: “I, one of the quarantine guests at Sari Pacific Jakarta, confirm that I understand, and will follow the quarantine regulations, as below. Twelve points were written for us to read, and to be signed, as understood. Here is a synopsis of what we read in the letter: Guests will stay in, and may not leave, the room, during their quarantine period, and required to pay all costs, during quarantine. You need to wear a quarantine bracelet. No facilities can be used, such as pool, massage, (man we needed one right now) and more. The hotel staff will not clean your room.
If you need clean towels or bedding, just call and they drop it off, at your front door. Full payment to be made at check-in. $1800 Canadian dollars.
It also said that a final PCR test will be taken, one day before your last quarantine day, and the result will be obtained, within a minimum of twelve hours, at IDR, 275.000 net. Do they want us to pay for that? Not sure. No online food, or deliveries allowed. No outside visitors allowed. Medical assistance is available, when needed. Hotel is not responsible for the outcome of the PCR test. In case of a positive result, the government health authority will assist you, to the appointed government isolation facility for Indonesian citizens, or to an isolation hotel for foreigners. Passports will be stored in the hotel safe, and returned to the guests when checking out. A Task Force Officer may obtain, at any time, access to your room. Sign, and agree to all the above. I did on behalf of the both of us. Note: At this point of this story, we just reached hour fifty-four! No real sleep, and proper relaxation. We wanted to take a shower. We stank!
I paid the hotel in full, and we were escorted by the manager, that took our check-in information for the hotel, to our room number 1427. Louise ordered, and received nasi goreng (Indonesian style fried rice). A knock on our hotel room door signalled the drop off of our food, in a white plastic bag. Out of the bag came two plastic plateaus with separate partitions (made me think back when I was in the army. The ones we had were round and made of metal). We recognized fried rice, fried egg on top, two small slices of cucumber, a small leave of lettuce, and two small slices of tomato. A bit of sambal, and krupuk. We were hungry, and I ate most of it. I know I should not compare what Louise prepares when she makes nasi goreng. We took a shower, and dove in the queen size bed. Bottles of water were already in the small fridge in our room together with a couple of bags of tea, and instant coffee.
The bathroom was very modest, small bathtub (luckily for years Louise and I only take showers), and we got two ‘crispy’ towels. (I remember when I was a child in the early fifties. There was no softener in the towels, we did not even have a shower that time in Rotterdam!)
There was your basic hotel supply of soaps, and shampoos. That is what we needed to use right now, as our luggage was still en-route to get to us. The following day? MAYBE NOT!
I needed to figure out the air conditioning and light switches. Nobody explains anything. They (hotel employees) are not allowed in our room! We figured it out. Loaded their Wi-Fi into our phone, and my laptop, and after the first shower, we jumped into bed. This was going to be our first night of our 10-day quarantine.
With a twelve hour time difference between Toronto and Jakarta, I expected to be awake early, but no, to my surprise, we did about six hours.
It is Friday morning, December 10. We needed to put in an order for breakfast. A barcoded piece of paper, stationed by the tv stand, had to be scanned on your phone. You pick a meal (mostly prepared to make it easier for this busy hotel kitchen staff). and wait for delivery. Here come the white plastic bags, plastic utensils, plastic everywhere. Wonder why there is such a problem with plastic recycling in Southeast Asia. Also, sauces come in plastic baggies. Even broth for your soup comes in a plastic bag! Ugghh! The timing for me could not have been better.
I lost my temper again, for the ample time, during this journey. I grabbed the phone, and dialed downstairs. I demanded to speak with the kitchen manager. “My wife and I, refuse to eat with plastic sir, we are not visiting a local warung. I like to have two deep plates; two flat plates, and metal utensils send to our room. I expect better food quality. I have paid a big amount of money for this service.”
I hang up the phone, needed to catch my breath again. Louise gave me shit. She was worried about my stress levels rising,
Love that lady!
Her task was now to keep phoning downstairs for food ordering, order clean towels, water, and other needs.
“You need to get away from that phone,” she said. “Yes dear,” I replied. The requested plates and cutlery made it to the room in time. But the food continued to be presented in plastic. Soups and all.
Louise has a good friend, Dennis, in Jakarta. who lived in her neighborhood during her younger years in Manokwari, West-Papua, and wanted to ask him to help us, with finding our lost luggage.
We send him copies of the paperwork we received from baggage handling at the airport together with our luggage tags from Air Canada. He said that he would find some definitive answers at the airport. He has connections. Dennis is living for many years in Jakarta, and part of the many businesses he is involved in is coordinating golf outings for the rich and famous. He told us: “I know the baggage handling people at the airport, as sometimes golf bags disappear.” Good news would come soon, right?
I will spare you the additional food deliveries and
being surprised daily about portions and flavors. That is a separate experience that Louise will be better to fill-in than myself.
I have eaten in hotels all over the world, but this is graded right up there – at the bottom! Funny, Indonesian friends told us, before we booked this hotel: “It is a first-class hotel; their food is great!” They obviously did not know about the prepared cheap menu, for the quarantine guests. There is no comparison to eating ‘life’ foods in a restaurant with ample choices. But if you like ‘fried’ foods, there is a lot to choose from on this hotel menu: potato wedges, fries (McDonald skinny style), hamburgers, hotdogs. Not the kind of food, us 73-year-olds, like to put into our bodies. Then, where am I going to burn off this stuff? Locked up, in a hotel room, remember? I like to visit my ‘throne’ daily at least once, but that would already be a challenge, with the time difference. Louise is the same.
Luckily, we could order papaya juice with everything daily. Fruits? Mostly watermelon, honeydew. Hmmm. Aren’t we in South-East Asia? Fruit is hanging from the trees everywhere. Is this hotel catering to western guests only? I did tell you there was no fresh air coming into
the room right? In Canada schools were ordered to supply constant movement of fresh air to keep COVID-19 out. Not so here in this hotel. No window can be opened. No balcony. Even people in jail, get time out daily, to get fresh air!
Oh, I forgot for a moment, we may have been infected with COVID-19 that we could spread around. But we just finished our 2nd NEGATIVE PCR test. One before we boarded the airplane, and one right after – and we are fully vaccinated.
I needed to write about this experience, to take negative pressure of my brain, that was struggling to stay positive.
I send out a message to my good friend, the Consul General of Indonesia in Toronto, and told him about my experiences in Jakarta.
I did not receive a response from him, which was very disappointing for me. Also, his Consular in Toronto, received an email from me. I believe in sharing important information, and this should be helpful for future travelers to Indonesia, to understand what can be expected. Just to prepare themselves better for this journey, as we have experienced so far.
Saturday, December 11, no good news of our luggage arriving in Jakarta. They send the suitcases back from Istanbul to Vancouver. And Vancouver (we really do not know for sure) send them to Japan. Why is this such a challenge for them? The luggage tags say clearly that they need to be send to Jakarta! This is day five without our luggage. and the much needed change of clothing, and other personal hygiene supplies. My electric razor is in there as well. Starting to look like Santa soon! It’s December. No white Christmas in Bali. Louise’s and my single piece of underwear, are being washed in the bathroom sink daily, with soap gracefully supplied by the hotel, after we repeatedly asked for that. It is beginning to feel like an exciting camping trip now. I remember going up-north in Canada. Living in the wild, in a tent, minimum opportunity for sanitation. But that is ‘your choice’ for experiencing the wild. And you are also outside, breathing in fresh air. We are longing to those days where fresh air
could be sniffed into our nostrils. What a delight. Cannot wait for our final destination in Bali, when we are finally given permission to leave this hotel room. Sunday, December 12, still no positive news of our luggage arriving in Jakarta. But wait, I got an email that our luggage was found? Where were they before? Yes, they were in Japan, and will be flying tonight to Jakarta. We received better food now. Louise has another friend in Jakarta, who used to work at this hotel. She connected with the kitchen staff. “Take care of my friend Louise and her husband please? They need fresh fruit and vegetables daily.”
There was a knock on the door. A nurse was staring at Louise. “Is your husband okee?” she asked. “I got a notification that he was stressed.” It was obvious that Louise’s friend warned them about my demeanor.
Got another WhatsApp message and lost my temper with another person that wanted to know –she is a visa seller from Bali – how things were. I gave her my heartfelt, personal feeling. A story she was not really ready to listen to.
Louise told the nurse: “I take care of my husband.”
It is also clear now that kitchen staff has levels of service. Some day the food is good and healthy the other day the same kind of food could be basic, and minimum. What am I to complain. But wait, I paid $1800 for this first class hotel?
It is Sunday evening, December 12, and I was happy to get NPO1 on my cell phone, which is a Dutch radio station, so I could be there ‘life’ when Max Verstappen wins the championship in Formula 1 car racing. I was excited. Max won!
Louise fell asleep earlier.
I struggled to a later time. But with a smile, and hoping our suitcases would arrive tomorrow, now Monday the 13th., I fell asleep. I woke up at 3 am. Had something come up in my brain. Had to sit by my laptop, and continued with this story you are reading. Louise woke up as well, and with a cup of tea, we looked through our window over a dark Jakarta. The imam started his prayers. There was no movement in the streets. Soon the abundance of motorcycles will buzz through the busy streets again.
Louise tried to order Muesli; but she did not get through to the kitchen, it must have been too early
in the morning for the kitchen staff.
The manager finally came on the phone, and we are waiting for the food delivery now. How many pieces of plastic are going to used today?
The Muesli ended up to be regular corn flakes.
We arrived at Day 6 of our quarantine in Jakarta. Finally, our suitcases came in late yesterday. We had to pay for a taxi, to pick up the luggage from the airport, as the hotel refused to pay for that expense. We were not surprised. Maybe a cost of $17 would get their expense budget out of control?
Louise is much happier now, as she was able to reorganize our luggage. Creams were a bit messy but overall everything else was fine.
I like to thank the local friends in Jakarta, that helped us with their support.
It is friends that you cherish with mutual respect, and compassion, that will be ready for you in times of difficulty.
I am still struggling with jetlag. An early morning wake-up of 3 am, is now the norm. It will take a couple more days to get to the 6 am routine, I am used to in Canada.
Thought of the day: When you are young and vibrant, you have the energy to experience this quarantine journey, but if you are reaching your
golden years it is time to wait for more positive COVID-19 travel regulations.
I do understand the decisions made by governments, but question the information delivery, and treatments guests received in quarantine hotels.
Louise lost her patience this afternoon. It is like waves of anger coming in and out of both of us. Not healthy, but there is nothing we can do about it. It just comes out.
Louise ordered soto ayam (soup), for tonight. The kitchen staff on the phone said the ‘quarantine people’ cannot order that. Wow, that did her explode again. I am worried about her as she is worried about me.
I honestly believe the quarantine hotels, do not understand what they are doing to the people, in a room of 30m2. No exit. Locked up for ten days. People without this experience may say: “You are in a hotel, must be ok, right?” It is not. Maybe when you are not used to luxury in life, you are ok to sit in a small room?
Here is another hotel service example: You order two coffees; you get one coffee and one tea. A half cup of a small size. Warm. but not hot. A paper cup, with a bag of sugar taped on top. “Enjoy your coffee sir.”
I hear someone say, after the knock on the door, where another plastic bag is dropped. No hotel room cleaning is done.
Louise asked and gets a vacuum cleaner and other cleaning supplies. She finds an already opened bag with a one-fourth left of cleaning chemicals inside. A new bag would cost too much! I liked fresh mango for lunch. “Cannot sir. Watermelon?”
I responded to this man on the phone: “I did not know that there are no more mango trees in Indonesia. Maybe you can import them from Mexico, like we do in Canada?” Apparently after hearing my voice, he gave the phone to a kitchen staff that understands English better. He did not understand my sarcasm. “Sorry sir. No mango.” she said.
It reminded me again, we are the people on Level 14 in this hotel, the sick quarantine people. Poejie, a friend from Louise, who used to work in this hotel, gets calls from guests on her personal phone. She told us from travellers all over the world. She is so sorry. There is nothing she can do. She was able to send us better coffee grinds for kopie tubruk (black strong coffee). Must repeat it, most people in the world do not
know what quarantine in a hotel room really means. People said on our phone – friends from Holland - well at least you can go outside right? It drives you nuts to tell them repeatedly that this is experienced as being locked up, without allowance of walking outside for fresh air.
I take another deep breath. We are at day six. I wondered how you as reader of this story would react if this happened to you personally. There must be a better way of treating people, that are suspected to carry the COVID-19 vaccine with them into their country. Do I have an answer for this or a solution? Hmm, better preparation would be a first. Maybe communicate with other countries in the world how they handle similar situations.
I wrote an email to the Canadian government office here in Jakarta. I received an unsigned email letter back. “We would like to kindly remind you that the decision to travel is your choice and that each country decides and controls who can enter or exit through its borders; or how they enforce the entry or exit regulations (especially during the pandemic). The Government of Canada cannot intervene and have no influence on acceptance, or any processes which occur. We wish you a safe travel.”
My pants dropped. Sorry I forgot; I did not wear my still drying underwear again today. I was expecting a kind word, maybe something like ‘we are sorry to hear about this and/or we care about our Canadian citizens,’ perhaps? There are four more days to go.
Today we were able to book our flight to Denpasar, Bali with Garuda Airlines. If we had known beforehand how we were going to be treated for ten days in quarantine, I would have cancelled our trip. At the same time, this is a reality check of how f ’d up this world is now. Somebody farts a new smell of fart somewhere in the world and the governments are all going crazy.
My back hurts. This office chair is too low for me on this – vertically challenged people’s - chair. I needed a cushion to lift me up. Louise is eating her soto ayam again. “I believe this is the only food that is made fresh.” Louise tells me. I just cannot eat right now. The flavors that used to excite me are now refusing to enter my taste buds. I should order fried food tomorrow. This hotel and their quarantine menu are good at that. Is it their intention to make us all sick? No, Bas do not think that. That cannot be true?
They always smile after knocking on the door and when you were able to get a glimpse when they drop off the white plastic bag with plastic packaging. Sauces in plastic bags! That must be healthy?
The plastic toxins are mixing with the flavorful sauce and other ‘fresh’ ingredients. I am thinking too much. I am getting emotionally drained. Why, you just slept for an hour on your self-cleaned queen size bed. You are lucky Bas. You are staying in a hotel!
I continue to believe that people just do not understand. And why should they.
They can go outside anytime when they like to breath in fresh air.
We arrived at day seven. I woke up at 3 am. Louise was already on her phone, checking messages. My head is still spinning. Thoughts fly in and out of my brain. Concentrating on anything else than the present situation is difficult. There is no changing scenery than the room, outside window, overlooking parts of downtown Jakarta, and old movies on tv. TV news channels only talk about Omicron.
Humanity is being saturated with this overload of the same negative information. Is there a healthy benefit to all this? I wonder. Again, thinking about the reason for writing my experiences during COVID-19 in this Jakarta hotel. Does anybody else really need to know this? What is the benefit for them knowing? They are not visiting Indonesia soon during this ten day Indonesian forced government quarantine rule, anyway. But still, I need to unload my brain. It is like old oil in a car engine, that needs to be refreshed.
I am falling asleep and seeing the following movie being played in my mind: The room is stale with repeated air that is circulated through the Indonesian courthouse. Louise and I, are sitting on a wooden bench, and watch the judge take the papers for our case number: 94945 in his hands.
“Mr. Bastiaan and Louise Opdenkelder?” “Yes you honor,” Louise and I replied. “I read your case file, and have decided that you are at fault for taking this unnecessary trip to Indonesia, during this COVID-19 crisis. You did have a choice of cancelling, but you decided to come anyway.”
“But your honor,” I replied.
“Louise and I have planned this trip for over a year. We already rented a villa in Bali, and we bring much needed monetary support to a hospice and orphanages. We made sure we got all the necessary paperwork ready for this trip. PCR tests, 72 hours before departing from Canada, a visum, double vaccination proof, medical insurance and required hotel booking in Jakarta. We followed the rules your honor.” “I am sorry Mr. and Mrs. Opdenkelder, but I have no choice but to sentence you to ten days in quarantine in a hotel in Jakarta. You will be locked in your room. No fresh air will be delivered to that room. Just the airconditioning and hotel circulated air. No approval of walking outside, to bring fresh air in your lungs. I know the people from the health department did suggest that measure, to maintain fresh oxygen circulation for your lungs, but I have decided to rule against that. On top of everything else, to teach you this lessen of misbehavior and ignoring our ‘Welcome to Indonesia’ signs: No visitors will be allowed into your hotel room, no food ordering from outside the hotel, and only hotel prepared foods will be delivered to your room in plastic containers, and utensils. Is that understood.?” “Yes, but you honor.
We are 73 years old.
I believe we do not deserve this kind of treatment after what we have done for the people, especially in Bali, for years?
There should be leniency applied for us. I am concerned that our health will deteriorate in the ten days stay in the hotel. Again, no fresh air your honor?”
“Sorry Mr. and Mrs. Opdenkelder, again you went against the rules for travelling during COVID-19 in our Republic, and you are therefore punished. Next case!”
Mr. and Mrs. Opdenkelder were shocked by this verdict. They did everything the Republic of Indonesia required them to do. But still this devastating verdict. What did they expect the judge would say? A more lenient treatment for them, or even an effort to get a balcony, so that the older couple could sit outside. They remembered the arrival in the Jakarta airport. The line-ups, the confusion –just like cows guided through a farm. From one checking station to the next. The disrespect of the elderly. The non-supply of water and no kind words of comfort when going through the funnel of checking the necessary steps to make sure they were not importing COVID-19 into Indonesia.
They were exhausted. Their flight was delayed because of mistakes made by Air Canada. The additional day of travel. Totalling 54 hours. They were guided outside, without their luggage. Which was another negative experience they had to deal with for the following five days. It was displaced, lost, who knows. “But Air Canada should be paying for this additional stress,” Mr. Opdenkelder said aloud. It would be one of the bursts of anger that he and his wife Louise would show, in the quarantined period to follow, in the hotel in Jakarta.
My eyes opened. Realizing where I was. I decided that I needed another cold shower.
Day 8. It is getting a bit easier. You get used to the routine. Sleep, wake-up, coffee, SSS, breakfast, watch tv, lunch, afternoon nap, dinner, watch tv, sleep. Tomorrow our final PCR test. If we test negative we can leave the following day. Friends have invited us to stay with them for a day, in Jakarta. Our flight is booked with Garuda to Denpasar, Bali on Sunday. We know that we will have a hefty bill on overfreight when we fly to Bali. At least the end of this quarantine is near. I have lost some weight. I am looking down from my hotel room to the street around the hotel. They are building a small factory. Watching it daily being finished. Impressed by their way of working. All pieces of the building are put together by hand. No heavy machinery is used. I was thinking of kissing the ground when the quarantine is over, when I come outside in front of this hotel. Would that be too much of a statement? You just cannot control these weird thoughts that go through your mind, being controlled by other humans who have been given the power to make
the decision if it will be a positive or negative day for you in this hotel or anywhere else around the world.
I had a plan to write my second book in Bali about Qigong - my journey. But with this quarantine experience I have to write about this first. I am saying to myself, who really wants to know about this anymore in a year from today? Things in this world are changing so rapidly and unfortunately, not for the better.
Carpe Diem - Pluk de Dag - Live Life every day to the fullest - Enjoy life my friends as we have no control over tomorrow. You can prepare as much as you like, but there are always sudden events, that are out of your control. When I finally land in Bali, I will have ample time to think and reflect. That beautiful island environment should give me the much-needed energy to refresh my batteries again. I have to be ready for the next attack. I will not fall back. I will be stronger.
Day 9. Today is the 2nd PCR test day we must complete in the negative, to be able to leave this hotel. No info yet when they (a government appointed nurse?) will conduct this test but where else are we going to go today? Hmm, working on a title for this story:
“Night Falls in Jakarta?”
I personally do not like non-fiction but what options do I have?
I believe the truth should be told, about the roller coaster ride experienced by foreign travelers in a COVID-19 quarantine hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. As one of my dear friends clearly stated to me: World governments have lost the fundamental responsibility to take care of our human rights.
Louise is already re-packing the suitcases again, reorganizing them to her liking. I keep my hands off. After 52 years that is better done that way. Cannot wait to see our home in Bali. There is work to do there. It will keep us busy, and of course, the Christmas preparations. The government appointed, medical COVID-19 testing team, just came in. Did the nose and throat swaps and tonight they will let us know.
Louise asked: “What time will we know?” “Tonight,” the nurse replied.
Louise: “When I get a negative PCR test result, can I go outside?”
“No our government does not allow that untill tomorrow. It is the rules ibu,” the nurse responded with a, weird smiling, facial expression. I complained to her in English about the fresh air not coming into the hotel room.
I thought, she is working for the health
department, she should be aware, right?
“Hahahaha, jajajajaja,” was the response. I was not getting through to her pre-programmed ‘how to respond to such a question’ brain. We are out of here soon. Of-course the test came back negative, but as expected, they waited till the next day to tell us that. They were so afraid we would leave the hotel a day earlier. How could we. We need our passports!
Hotel quarantine room # 1427 was officially opened by the hotel assistant manager. We are free to go.
Louise went downstairs to the lobby to talk to the hotel manager. I told her, that is a waste of time. “No,” she said. “I want to express my displeasure.” End-result: no free drinks to apologize, but a bill for $10 for two orange juice we did not get delivered to our room when we asked before. It was available in the hotel bar lobby!
The outside air is warm. Jakarta is always busy in the morning. We were picked up by Johannes a good friend that worked before at the United Nations He was happy to see us. And understood our experiences in the hotel.
JOHANNES, LOUISE & DENNIS
We had a trip ahead of us. About an hour to the east side of Jakarta. He missed a turn somewhere.
Two and a half hours later we arrived at Louise’s friend, Dennis. It gave me time to breath in much-needed ‘fresh air ’? Driving through the kampongs (was not scheduled to happen, but that is when you miss that important off-ramp) is challenging, but I had my eyes closed. FREE at last.
We enjoyed a wonderful day with Dennis and his wife Elsie. In the evening we visited a local sate house for sate kambing. The following morning we flew with Garuda, and the expected additional cost for our luggage, to Bali.
