Back In Indonesia...Barely

5 days out from climbing Mt. Kinabalu:
Muscle Soreness - moderate
Knees - Okay
Fear of Rain - STILL HIGH

So we've now travelled from Malaysian Borneo to Indonesian Borneo via Jakarta on Java. For some reason, even though it's the same island, it's practically impossible (or they make it extremely difficult) to get from what part to the other. Seemingly, it's because the two countries don't want illegal trade to go in between (or something...).

Not a problem, because with Air Asia (the greatest airline ever) short hops between countries (even with a stop over) are ridiculously cheap. Buying our tickets two days before, we flew from Kota Kinabalu to Jakarta (a 3 hour flight) for $40. And then from Jakarta to Balikpapn, for another $40 (2 hour flight). It was also interesting that we were on the 'Maiden Voyage' for the Jakarta flight because Air Asia just opened up the route.

However, like I've hinted in the title of this post I almost didn't make it in the country. We've been to Indonesia as you may recall previously in November to Bali and had absolutely no problems at the border. Actually, Andrew and I have barely had border gaurds say two words to us throughout our entire journey so imagine my surprise when the Indonesian customs officer asked me for my forwarding ticket out of the country. I'm a backpacker, our whole stitch is to not plan anything! An outward ticket a whole month from now? Are you kidding? I barely know where I'm sleeping tonight. However, this stipulation is well-known (ish) even though we've never been asked and never had a problem previously.

So I told him I didn't have one. And then did my best to convince him that no, sir, I did not want to stay in Indo for the rest of my life and I pinky swore I'd leave within the month. He looked skeptical and called his boss (I guess pinky swearing doesn't have the same weight it does in the States). Indonesia is not a country you want to screw around in, for instance, the first sign you see when getting off the plane says "Welcome to Indonesia! Death Penalty for Drug Traffickers!" AHHH I mean what could the penalty be for no forwarding ticket? Lose a finger? I was not anxious to find out.

Boss comes back, looks at us, it's AOK. So after this debacle was finished and we were indeed going to be let into the country, he looks at my passport and says PROBLEM. What now?? I already pinky swore what else do you want from me? It turns out my passport is full. See, all these asian countries (barring Thailand and Malaysia) need Visas. And Visas take up the whole page. Coupled with the fact that Canada is apparently very stamp-happy, my passport has no room for another Visa. "But what about those two pages at the end there?" I asked, not really understanding the problem. "Those are for amendments." He says, barely looking me in the eye. What are amendments? Why Do I need that? What a stupid system in the first place? (All thoughts I spoke silently to myself, while cursing the US, knowing I'm fully in the wrong).

And then he asks me "Do I have another passport?" No, I don't. And that's when the tears started. He quickly says "I talk to my boss" and hustles away from the nearly hysterical American girl before it gets too ugly.

After about 10 minutes, he comes back and says "I let you in Indonesia...I help you, you help me?" I throw the $10 change I had leftover at him gratefully, thanking God I'm allowed in the country. It's 11 pm on a friday and I was not looking forward to spending the night at the airport.

All in All, I'm grateful to be back in Indonesia for many reasons, including visitng friends of our family the Feits, who now live here. The husband, Mark, works for Chevron and has been an expatriate for many years and have been living in Balikpapan for the last year and a half. It's wonderful to stay in a house, with a comforter (!), home cooked meals and carpet. All things we take for granted in North America, but a comforter (meaning the A/C is on and blasting) and carpet are hard to come by in Asia. From here, we'll probably head to other destinations in Indo before hopping over the Phillipines to visit Andrew's childhood nanny's family. Stay tuned.