PERSONAL RECOUNT COMING BACK TO AL BINAA A Journey from Makassar to Jakarta, Jan 20th 2011 I dont think where

is good to begin but I guess it would be interesting to start at Soekarno Hatta Airport my arrival in Jakarta. Just about to land on Sukarno Hatta Airport Dear passengers, well be landing in Sukarno Hatta Airport in few minutes. Please remain seating at your seat, fastening your seatbelt and folding your table. Thank you. Listening to the announcement by a flight attendant of Merpatis airplane, I began to look around searching my luggage where I put when I get in to the plane. Thats to prerare to deplane soonly later. While searching around the cabins lockers, my sight pointed at two aged persons were starting to have a chat about whatever interested me to join in. The man was sitting exactly in front of my seat and there was only a narrow corridor which separated him from that lady hes talking to. He was tall and big as an Indonesian. He was about 65-70 years old. While the lady had about 160 cm tall and weighed about 60 kgs. Unlike the man, who looked stiff, she looked energetic. From her facial complexion, I could see enthusiasm, sincerity and cheerfulness. I think it is unnecessary to tell here in case of the privacy but for the benefit of the chronological order of my story as a whole, Ill tell you just the pieces of their talk and further judge yourself. The aged man opened by saying, Mau kemana bu? in English, Where are you going, Madam? He uttered it in a very relax but respectful and convincing way. Its typical for the mature peoples way of talking. The lady replied, Saya? (Me?) while fingering herself as if shes trying to assure herself that the man in fact talked to her. Yah (Yes) said the man while glancing at the ladys face. Ehm, saya mau ke Tanjung Priok (Hmn, Im going to Tanjung Priok) replied the lady while arrenging her position from facing straightforward to turning to the left facing the man. Her sight was nearly directed at my sight. Therefore I could see the way she talked which was very unique and I could grap the subjuct of their talk. The talk continued althought had been stopped by landing proccess of the plane. During the landing process I took my mind of paying attention to them instead I was trying to focus my heart and my mind by saying subhanallah, alhamdulillah, for several times. I guess not only me myself who feels landing proccess as a critical moment of experience whenever going by plane. Alhamdulillah after feeling so nervous by the mercy of Allah the plane landed succesfully without any obstacles. Welcome to Sukarno Hatta Airport Dear passanger, welcome to Sukarno Hatta Airport. Please reamain on your seat. Well depline in few minutes. Im ....the pilot and all the crews say thanks for flying with Merpati Airlines. Have a nice trip and see you on the next flight. The strip to the standstill where the passangers would deplane was rather far so it took about 5 minutes to get to it. I saw the two aged persons could take benefit from it by continuing their talk. Questions by questions uttered by the old man with his tipical style. By showing concern, sincerity and cheerfulness, the lady replied all. With focus gaze, cheerful and smiling face to whom shes talking to, made anyone who talks with her would be pleasant and amused. No exception to that man, he enjoyed talking continously seemed as he didnt care anything around them. Luky husban who has a type of wife as she is.

Deplining from the plane The plane had been stopped and the passangers are allowed to deplane. I tried to grab my luggage in the locker above me, Alhamdulillah I could get it easily. I stood in line for few seconds waiting the turn to walk to the exit door. Alhamdulillah as the man in front of me started walking, I just followed him directly to the front exit door. There a steward and an a stewardess stood up saying thanks and
good bye to all the passengers passed by with their typical artificial smiling face. I wasnt also missed to get such service. I only glanced, smiled and saying youre welcom. Leaving out the plane, I headed for the baggage claim room straightly. During the walk on the corridor downstair, I met the lady and the man again were talking while walking made me slowed down my walk. Before getting to that room, I saw the toilet rooms. I straightly looked for gents rooms and got in. Exiting from it, I got time to look into the mirror, washed my hands and my face. Then I hurried to the luggage claim room through elevator. Arriving there, there were several people who had been waiting for their luggages. And again I met the lady there waiting for her luggages. I looked around searching for that aged man coming to address her but I didnt find him there. I didnt know whether he had no luggages or he asked someone to take it. No longger then the luggage wheel machine rotated. I observed the luggages one by one especeally which was similar to mine. It was black, rather small, slim and had a small yellow padlock locking the two main metallic zippers. These only the features that I could remember. I found some similar to mine. I felt a little bit so serious and oh my... that is it, it has passed me I am sure thats it. I pursue it or let it goes and wasting few minutes waiting for the second chance. Seeing the place was so crowded, I decided to wait while telling my self, next time when Ill go by plane Id better to put some easy recognizable accessories on my luggages. I had to be patient waiting for few miutes and to assure that I wouldnt make the same mistake for the second time. Alhamdulillah it came and I could recognize and grab it easily. I walk straightly to the arrival exit gate of the airport. Before getting to it I meet the old lady again just about few steps to the checking off point. But this time differed from before. She had a look at me. As usual she showed her cheerful smiling face. As though she remember me who sat near her in the plane a few moments ago. However I only replied it with smiling without stopping my walk. The checking off baggage officer stopped and approached me then asked me to show my baggage label and the tickets which I had prepared before. He glanced at it then say alright thank you. I went straightly to the exit gate which guarded by two security guards who were standing at both sides. Out there was very crowded by the visitors who were waiting for anyone. Alhamdulillah, I arrive in Jakarta. Taxi Pak? (Taxi, Sir?) said a man with a hat on his head a little politely to me. Because its too far to get to my destination by taxi, so I refused his offer politely also. Instead I said Sorry but Ill take DAMRI (city bus). I was sure that to get a passanger, a taxi driver needs hard effort and fight with the other ones.However he remain be polite even he extended kindness to me by showing me where the DAMRI station is. Its typical for taxi drivers in Sukarno Hatta Airport. Its really differed from the other city in Indonesia. I think this is one of the good public services and I really apreciate it. I immediately headed for the ticket counter. There, many people had been queuing up waiting for their turn to buy the ticket. I put my luggage aside near a concrete stool which is available everywhere. Before my turn came I had time to read the destination and price list of Bus DAMRI. I saw my destination there: BANDARA SOEKARNO HATTA JAKARTA-CIKARANG Rp 35.000. When my turn came, I asked the officer Cikarang for one seat, please while giving the money. Instead of recieving it, she said, Maaf Cikarang bayar langsung diatas bis. Well, where shall I wait for the bus? I continued. You go straightly to the end of bus stop, infront of the ticket counter you can wait there she replied quickly. Okay, thank you, madam. I ended then rushed there. Why did I had to rush to get to the Bus?????? Arriving there I asked the DAMRI officer who was managin the busses which stopped there. Excuse me Sir, When is the Bus to Cikarang coming? It will be coming in several minutes, just wait

overhere. He replied. I said Okay, thank you then went to the stool near by. I watched every bus which came alternately. I read the sign post of each bus which passed by. LEBAK BULUS, MEGA M, BEKASI, SERPONG, BOGOR. I hadnt got the writing CIKARANG. A little while after that, I saw the aged lady again. But this time I saw there was a man with her. He talked to her so familiar and so closed without any clumsiness. It seemed that he has a kinship relation with her. After a little while, came a bus with sign post TANJUNG PRIOK. Some people getting buzy preparing their luggages, then ran hastily to the bus. I saw the two aged men also did so. Ah ha... I remember the past talk of her in the plane that she was going to Tanjung Priok. Oh thats it. Hmn, good bye a unique oldish lady, I said in my heart. Contacting someone who would pick me up Because I had got no activity other than waiting, something brought to my mind. Who will pick me up later at the bus terminal? I began to consider and trying to recall who would be better. Al Binaas pick up service (my workplace service), but right now is still holiday time for some of the employees included the drivers but excluded all the teachers. Ah Mr. Hasyim, the principal; a great friend of mine. Without wasting in time, I dialed his telephone number. Assalamu alaikum, I addressed. Waalaikum salam he answered. How are you? Alhamdulillah, Im fine. And you? Alhamdulillah, Im just fine. He replied. We continued having small talk until coming to my point. By chance, he asked me, By the way, where are you now? Thats it(I said in my heart) Hmm, Ive just arrived in Jakarta. Now Im in Sukarno Hatta Airport. .Mr. Saepul, my close friend, Im not sure that he has already arrived at Al Binaa. Mr. Abdurrahman, my great friend, may be hes busy with his family. Hes already got two children. considered then I desided Getting in to the DAMRI bus of Cikarang I began to wonder whether the bus was still available or not, so I had time to ask the DAMRI officer who was arranging the traffic. Maaf Pak!, Apa masih ada bis DAMRI ke Cikarang? (Excuse me Sir, is DAMRI bus to Cikarang available?) Yes its going to arrive in just a little while he replied. Alhamdulillah, I said in my heart. And in a short time later, I saw a bus coming and I watched the sign post and, Phew, Its CIKARANG. I grabbed my bag and my suitcase then I rushed in to the bus. I quickly put my luggage into the available space in it then glanced out to the back and to the front just to ascertain my self that infact I was the first passanger who got into the bus. I directly went to the front seats as usual I prefer the front seat to the back ones. I chose the seat next to the driver, exact behind the first row seat. Actually I would rather sitting on the first row, but I saw there was only one chair available there and I wouldnt sit alone like a lonely person who has neither friend to talk nor anyone to accompany during my way to Al Binaa. Wow, what a relief it is. Finally, I would have arrived at Al Binaa. Leaving Soekarno Hatta Airport After a little while, there was a mother who was carrying her little baby followed by a porter carrying her luggage on come to my side and asked me, Ada uang sepuluh ribunya, Pak? ( Have you got a little money?) How much?, I said while trying to reach my wallet as wanting to help her. Ten thousand rupiah? Oh, cukup lima ribu rupiah saja, Pak, (five thousand rupiah is enough) she cancelled. Let me see, ah, here it is madam, I replied while giving it to her. Saya pinjam dulu yah Pak? ( Let me borrow it, Okay?). Its alright, Mam, I said to her. She gave it immediately to the porter then went to the single seat in front of me. Mau kemana pak? (Where are you going?) she opened a talk to me. Saya mau ke Pebayuran,(Im going to Pebayuran) I replied. Pebayuran, where is it? She continued. She asked me a question as I supposed. Its in an East outskirt of Bekasi far away from the city. Its already very close to Karawang. There is only a Citarum River which separates it, I tried to describe. Oh, I see, she implied that indeed it is. Twirling around The Airport round and round

I looked at the driver and asked, Pak ini sampai JABABEKA kan? (Sir, this bus gets to JABABEKA, doesnt it?). Im trying to convince my self that Im in the right bus and to the right direction. Yes, it will finish there, he answered shortly. Alhamdulillah,