garuda and badminton

on a short notice, i had to fly to jakarta to attend national workshop on sumatran tiger. the invitation was forwarded to me around noon. when i was having my lunch, my supervisor told me that i might be going to jakarta for that one day workshop. around 2 pm, i spoke to the program manager and he said i should go to that workshop because neither he or my supervisor could go because they already had another agenda. so then i rushed to office receptionist to book me a flight this evening. i was not sure though there'll be one seat left for this sudden need because normally pekanbaru-jakarta route quite busy. i could also fly tomorrow morning but i don't wanna be late as the workhsop will start at 9 a.m. moreover, i don't fancy flying in the morning coz it usually gives me headache. but she got me the ticket for that evening flight. so that's good news. don't have to worry bout headache and morning flight.

i left the office around 3 so i could have some time to pack my stuffs. yeah, it was only one day, surely there isn't many things to bring. again, i was just trying to play with time. don't want to left anything important behind (such as deodorant maybe, hehe) and i don't want to get late to the airport. i had a bad experience of being late to check in at airport. i just don't want it to happen ever more.

so, eka took me to sultan syarif qasim II airport with his brand new green motorcycle. it is TVS brand. one of the reasons he chose it because it has MP3 player among many bonuses he got (nokia handphone, etc). arrived at the airport, i still got plenty of time so i used it to write an email and facebooking.

there were three flight at around the same time. so everybody eagerly lined up to get into the plane. seeing the crowd makes me think that the stairs won't be able to hold for such big capacity any longer. but it appeared they split the line into two. one for other airline and garuda. well, guess that was one of the advantages of flying garuda because the extra money (garuda promo ticket = above other airline normal ticket) you paid, make you have extra room. no need to be in the crowd because garuda passengers are the priority.

another difference between garuda and other airlines is the stairs to get into the aircraft way bigger. so i felt like in first class although my boarding pass showed me that i will be seated in the economy class. they also have more space between each rows. very nice. totally more comfortable then budget airlines. and now with its brand new aircraft, each seat has its personal tv! yeaaahhhh... entertainment on air. so long the green creature show just for laughs candid video.

after a smooth take off and the personal tv was on for entertainment, i quickly moved my right hand looking for the remote control. but couldn't find it! what.., how am I gonna enjoy my own tv??! i was almost give up when i saw the beautiful lady seat next two seats from me touch the screen with her finger and the screen changed. woaaww... this one is a touch screen tv, way to go garuda! so then my index finger playing around the screen. touch this and that. i was so excited. i don't know if SQ or MAS airlines have moved to touch screen tv too. i don't care at all. what i care that now Garuda Airline is so cool.

based on entertainment on air magazine i found in my seat pocket, i know that it will not worth watching movie. besides, only few movies are available for domestic route. so i decided to see badminton video. it was from All England 2009 where Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) play againts Peter Gade (Denmark). i haven't seen this one. i don't think any local tv stations in indonesia broadcasting the tournament. it turned out that i am so happy with my choice. it was a world class! brilliant game! superb! fantastic! a very worth to see game! both Hidayat and Gade showed how wonderful badminton game can be. this make me think that badminton tournament should has big prize for its winners, just like the tennis.

i got so into the game. i hope i did not bother anyone in the plane with my excitement because sometime when i see badminton game i would cheering the players without knowing how loud it is., hahaha..

Hidayat won the first game with 21-18. woww, it was close, very tight points. entering the 2nd game, i wished that Hidayat will win the game too so he would get into next round. the game on, with more fabulous point to point play. ooh i feel like i can't wait to see the end of the game. i hope it will be Taufik Hidayat. reaching the points 17, the plane was about to land at jakarta, so they were shutting down all tv, dim the lights and getting ready for landing. it was so close to end of the game. ohh, that makes me so frustrated. i wanna know who finally won the game.

surely if i was so desperately curious with that game, i would go to mbah google looking for it. but i just didn't do it during my 3 days stay in jakarta. i don't know why. perhaps the beauty and the sorrow of jakarta attracts me more.

back to pekanbaru, i still flew with garuda, but this time with the old aircraft, so no entertainment on air. that was ok. i use it to sleep coz i was so sleepy.

on the first day of the week, i remember again about the badminton game. so, i looked for it in youtube and there they are! yess. it was nice to see the whole game. before that game, Taufik Hidayat and Peter Gade has met 11 times with the record 5-6. so the game at the All England tournament made the record same for both players. nobody is stronger than the other. both of them just know how to play the game beautifully. thanks guys.