Journey of Mi[rna]

I may say I was a little bit late to enjoy  a previlege I have from my gold credit cards (ehemmm……). I always wanted to go in a lounge room everytime I fly. But, don’t  know why, I have never stepped my foot in the lounge room, although the waiting room in airport is not comfortable.

So, yesterday when I and my colleague waited to fly back to Jakarta, my colleague, Heri talked me in to this. The waiting room in Hasanudin Airport is not very bad compare to the one in Badarudin Airport (Palembang). At that time, it was hot. I had an idea to go to lounge room, I asked Heri if he has gold credit card too so we can go in together. He doesn’t have it, but he encouraged me to go there and enjoy it. I said no, because I will leave him alone. He said it was fine. Then after some time of persuasion, I decided to check out the lounge room. Just to see if we can use my two gold credit cards.

So, went we go to El-John Lounge, we found out that my NGA card can’t be used there, but my other card can…..And, surprise, surprise, with only 1 card, it can be used for 3 persons, FREE!!!! Oh, I love it.

And, it was very comfortable. Many snacks and drinks are served! There was toilet and mushola. Very cool……We enjoy those right away. The flight was delayed, so we must wait for 1 more hour. But I didn’t mind this time.

One problem : there were some old men smoking! Hey, it’s an AC room  here!!!!

I couldn’t stand the smoke and we got out. Do you know what we did? We went to another lounge room-TORAJA Lounge Room! Just next door.

Voila…….The room is a lotta nicer, there are couches…….Great, we were sleepy and we found couch! No one’s smoking, even better!

Next time, I’ll wait in the lounge room!

Toraja Lounge Room

I went to other city this Monday to follow up a hospital project, Makassar, on airplane. Then I remembered things I hate when flying nowadays, using local airlines.

The airlines charge cheap airticket so many people can afford flying. They don’t serve fancy food/snacks to cut cost, don’t prioritize on passengers’ comfort. The most important thing now is passenger can get to their destination.

But, because of it, I feel there’s no prestige anymore in flying. No more nice flying experience. The airport waiting room is like a bus terminal. Crowded…..Hot……Smelly…..

OK…..back to my story. As usual, I flew on this airline (I won’t tell the name). My company choose this airline because of the rate of airfare, which is CHEAP, of course!

I fly with this airlines several times already.

This what happens/happened:

a. As usual, we departed late.

b. The seat is narrow

c. The isle is narrow

d. I thought the only snack I would get would be a glass of mineral water.  Fortunately, since the flying time was 2 hours, I got a glass of mineral water, a box of snack (contents of 2 kinds of bread), I can choose hot tea or hot coffee, and I got candies before we landed.

e. I was on isle seat, near toilet!!!!! And I hate it because other passengers who walked in the isle sometime just bumped my shoulder or my legs. And…it was near toilet….so smelly!

Actually, I had a window seat. But because there was a  "bad" arrangement of the seat of a family, I let them had my seat and I moved to other seat.

f. Children,  baby, infants, or whatever they are called……..They kept crying during the flight. Gosh……No peace!

g. Passengers still use their mobile phone just before take off.

h. Everytime we touch the ground, just after the lights are switched on, all passenger will rise and quickly grab their bagage, and start to queueing in the isle, waiting for the door to be opened. What’s up with that????!!!!

(Just after took off)

In conclusion: What do you expect from cheap ticket airlines? I couldn’t complaint……I just have to bear with it as my company will try to save cost.

For a self-reminder:

1. Check in to the counter at least 1 hour before boarding so I won’t get back seat near toilet or the pantry. It will be smelly or noisy!

2. Ask to have window seat, the best is near emergency door. The space is bigger there.

3. Babies? I just have to put up with them.

4. If it’s short flight and I will only get mineral water, I’ll bring my own delicious snacks……

Sunset, taken from the plane.

I got back from my assignment from Sumatera, it was almost a week of business trip. Did a demo for tumor removal machine with a neurosurgeon there.

We had 2 patients, but most touching operation was when neurosurgeon operated a 10 years old girl.

She lost one of her sight due to her condition before the surgery. After doctor plant a shunt, she can talk normally. The tumor removal was successfull. But I can’t imagine what kind of pain she will feel after the surgery. My migrain won’t compare to it.

Do you know that neurosurgeon must shave her head, made incision to her scalp, peeled off her scalp, drilled the skull, took off part of the scalp, opened dura layer, opened the brain, cut and removed the tumor, after he finished removing tumor, then he closed it, he sewn the blood vessel and other open location, attached the skull using wires, after that the scalp was sewn, and the nurse put a catheter to drain the blood. 

Drilling the skull

Removing the tumor using ultrasonic aspirator