Batam Bound: My First Visit and the Unplanned Flight Detour

OH. MY. GOAT. WHAT. A. VIEW! That’s all I could say to express my awe at the breathtaking sight before my eyes! Is this the kind of view that the elite indulge in every time they visit Batam for a round of golf? Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality….. 🎤🎼

My first Batam experience was one of a kind—especially in my business trip savvy. I’m not sure what to label it: was it sheer bad luck, a gentle wake-up call for my overly laid-back attitude, or simply another intriguing chapter in my travel diary? But one thing’s for sure, it was an unforgettable unfortunate event. What’s the story, you ask? Well, let me tell you about the time I missed my flight to Batam. It wasn’t because I was running late or had a security hiccup at the gate—I even arrived at the airport a whole hour before boarding. Nope. It was all because of Starbucks.

I found myself inexplicably craving their cheese quiche, so I joined the line with just a tiny inkling of doubt about the wait. But I brushed it off, got my quiche and hot chocolate, and strolled towards security, ready to unwind.

Then, out of nowhere, I heard my name over the PA system. Final call? Seriously? There were still six people ahead of me! How could this be happening? I checked my watch—it was only 30 minutes until departure. Why the rush? What was I supposed to do, sprint to the gate with my backpack and laptop bag? Oh, please, anything but that.

I walk as fast as I can. I tried to wait for the goofy car but they were just gone *like the mysterious unfortunate event when you in a rush* and I have to walk to gate 19 which was far, far away. Even the distance seems doubled echoing the urgency of the final call! Arriving at the gate, I find it deserted, the gate sealed shut. This can’t be happening! They left me!

“Hey hey hey, please please let me in. I need to board right now. You have no idea what this means for my career,” I plead, adding a sprinkle of desperation to my excuse so the gate agents will feel bad for me. “The airplane was right there, it was not leaving the parking spot yet, and the boarding bridge was still stuck to the door, isn’t it possible for me to go through? Really?”

But alas, another rejection. Despite my pitiful pleas, they remain steadfast in their adherence to the rules. Left with no recourse, I sit, take a deep breath, resigning myself to my fate, and finish my quiche with a bitter laugh. Shit happens, right? It is what it is.

Feeling utterly lost, I reached out to my office mate who encouraged me to keep the trip and find the next available flight. Then, I cross paths with Mba Ari, arriving just three minutes too late to share in my rejection but just in time to join me on this dramatic day in our business trip saga. Grateful for her company, she leads the way to the Garuda outlet, where we add our names to the waiting list and continue our work remotely.

Wow. Unbelievable turn of events! You know, this morning, amidst all the chaos, the first check-list I ticked was rescheduled my return ticket at the airport, shelling out around Rp500k from my own pocket—no reimbursement from the company if you curious. Then, to top it off, my Citilink return ticket was wasted as the plane departed without me, labeled ‘no-show’—another personal expense. Can you believe it? I just lost Rp3mio all because of a cheese quiche!

Uh oh apologies to the innocent cheese quiche, you’re blameless in all this. It’s entirely on me. I was too careless with time, walking through the process with selfish ease assuming everything would go as I intended 🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 I won’t let myself be Mrs. Negative, so I’m move on from the drama, focusing on meetings and tackling tasks one by one, and kept this drama as low-key as  possible.

After enduring a long six-hour airport wait, we finally secure our new boarding passes, jet off to Batam, and bid farewell as we’re whisked away by our company drivers.

“Hey, are you in Batam yet? Everything good?” My friend checks in, and I reassure her, “Yep, I’m here. Just need to unwind a bit before dinner. Sound good?” She shares the dinner spot and arranges a ride for me at 6:30 pm. Seriously, she’s the best colleague ever. She’s got my back for the meeting I missed and has everything under control

But as soon as I step into my private hotel room, all the tension melts away. I swipe open the glass door and I’m greeted by an unexpected view of unnatural but pleasantly neat green fields with clear blue-golden skies. I don’t remember if I changed my last name to Musk or Rich, but I felt like once.

You can call me a sucker for luxury—or tacky if you’re feeling blunt, but lounging in a spacious room with a golf course view makes me feel like royalty. I don’t even play golf, but based on my subjectivity, it’s the epitome of luxury. And let me tell you, Radisson lives up to its reputation as a top-notch 4-star hotel. Their standards are on another level.

The room is big and comfy, with a king-sized bed and pristine bedcovers that don’t smell like cheap laundry detergent—or worse, cat pee. Everything here is first-rate, from the body lotion to the bathrobe. It’s clear the hotel manager is a perfectionist, and it shows in every detail that gives us the quality we never get from the budget hostel—don’t get me wrong, sometimes budget hostels could be extra with their amenities, like our hostel in Kyoto or Ubud, but it was RARE.

After I removed all my make-up and dived into the bed, I couldn’t help but wonder, was missing that first flight worth it for this luxurious experience? Would I be feeling this grateful if I hadn’t been delayed and come early to Batam? My thoughts are interrupted by a notification: my vegan meal has arrived, and Abang Gojek is waiting for me in the lobby.

So, what did I take away from this Batam drama? (1) Don’t hang around the airport—Pak Oyong would say, ‘Told you so!’ (2) Get flight insurance for peace of mind, or (3) Opt for a refundable ticket next time, (4) Keep your credit card handy for emergencies if cash is tight, (4) Keep your chin up, (5) Avoid Starbucks like the plague!

Learn from my mistakes to safeguard your journey. Ciao!