Airport Fest '09

Yesterday was the beginning of what I have now come to call "Airport Fest '09". Airport Fest '08 was quite the ordeal. I was not allowed to board my flight in Seattle, spent a night in the Sea-Tac Airport, and had a 24 hor layover in Seoul, South Korea. This year I think we have it beat. Yes, it really is an all star line up. It all began with a flight from Maumere, Flores to Denpasar, Bali with a half hour layover in Sambawa. Next, 7 hours in Denpasar which, with delays turned into 9, waiting for a connecting flight to Jakarta. Arriving just past 7:00pm, I had planned to stay in a hotel near the airport, my next flight not being until noon today. However once at the Jakarta airport I learned all the flights were fully booked except for the Hyatt. I don't think I need to explain that this was a little out of my price range. I ate dinner at the airport, thinking about my options. They were as follows:

1)Stay at the Hyatt-not really an option.
2)Go into Jakarta and stay on Jalan Jaksa, the backpacker strip.- The only way to get there is by taxi or bus. With a taxi from the airport, you are garenteed to get ripped off, and not just a little. A lot! The bus, at that time of night, takes 2-3 hors to get there. Jalan Jaksa isn't bad if you meet some people to hang around with, which takes a couple of nights. Flying solo as a woman there, you are subjected to non-stop harassment by local men.
3)Sleep at the airport-This involves...well. sleeping in the airport.

Guess which one I opted for? I like to make my life more difficult than it has to be. That's right, I slept at the airport. Not so much slept, as sat starring aimlessly at the ground for hours upon end. It was unpleasant, to say the least. I did save myself a nights accomodations though. There are about a dozen doughnut shops, so finding a cup of Jo to keep me awake wasn't so much a problem. It also gave me a chance to catch up on some reading. Today the events of APF '09 continued with a flight, once again delayed, to Singapore. This is where I am now, Singapore. Tomorrow will be spent packing up Fred and preparing for the next long haul. The one that will end at home. First it's off to Tokyo, an hour layover, then off to LA, California. 5 hours later I'm off to Calgary. Home sweet home! Just a side note to my family, please remember to pick me up.
The more I think about it, the more I'm looking forward to being home. To seeing my family and my friends, and to enjoyiong all the creature comforts. Seeing as I can't be there just yet, Singapore really is the next best thing. I've been here so much that it feels almost like a second home. It's good to be back here.
Many airports have internet access. If I can I'll try to post durring the rest of Airport Fest '09. If not, this is likely to be my last. It's been a slice. I'd like to thank everyone who followed along. Being that I'm back in Singapore I've been able to post a lot more pictures. If you click on the slideshow it should provide you with a link to my picasa albums.
Goodbye everbody, and to those at home I'll be seeing you in a few days!

Gabrielle