Bonnie goes to Bali: Jakarta Quarantine

View of the Persian Gulf from the plane before landing in Doha

I arrived on a Monday morning, after taking a flight from Detroit to Chicago, Chicago to Doha, Doha to Jakarta. I had paid an extra $75 on my Qatar Airways ticket to have a service rep meet me on arrival in Doha and get me to my next gate. It was definitely money well spent, as she eased me through a lighter security line, wound us through the gigantic airport and settled me at my gate within 10 minutes. She also brought me two, complimentary water bottles. I was so desperately dehydrated at that particular moment I didn’t ask for where a refillable bottle station might be, and I regret it. Especially because, upon arriving in Indonesia, it will be pre-bottled water for me to avoid foreign bacteria…hopefully they have offerings in glass or aluminum.

I was able to upgrade my economy ticket from Doha to Jakarta to business class for a mere $300. I suspect it has to do with the fact that so few people are traveling this route at the moment due to border restrictions. Sure enough, there was barely anyone in economy with most of the passengers cozily bundled up front. I will say, it was truly a lifesaver being able to use the lie-flat seat to sleep for a large chunk of the 9 hour flight, and when I wasn’t sleeping I was enjoying the delicious in-flight meal and a nice glass of wine (or two).

Upon arrival in Jakarta, there were several steps to clear immigration. The first holding bay had us waiting for an agent to review our visas, proof of a quarantine hotel, and other paperwork. Then on to some additional security guards who again reviewed my passport and papers. From there we went to a PCR testing station before, finally, being allowed to move on to baggage claim and the standard customs line. Now safely reunited with my bags, I met up with the car service taking me to my quarantine hotel, the Fairmont Jakarta. I should mention that the car service and hotel were booked through a consulting company that helps families going to Green School navigate travel to Bali, and I am very grateful for how they simplified an otherwise daunting move.

So here I am, day 5 of an 8 day quarantine. At first, I was thrilled. The room is gorgeous, the views of the city are lovely and the food is delicious. It is at once claustrophobic and extremely spacious…the realization that you cannot step foot outside for anything does turn this very nice room into a cage…but the endless amount of time to fill feels like the kind of expansiveness I dream about during busier work weeks. The first couple days a fellow Green School employee, who was also at the hotel, called my room and we were able to chat. I asked her questions that have been on my mind about my forthcoming life in Bali, and was grateful for her wisdom gained from previous, pre-pandemic years living on the island. However, we only overlapped a couple days before she was on a flight to Bali. Those early days I was extremely jet lagged, and found myself in bed by 4 or 5pm…I’ve since managed to keep myself awake until 8 or 9pm, but once my work is done for the day it’s hard to find ways to fill the evening hours. I’ve streamed all of the new Sex Education season on Netflix, followed by a sci-fi/fantasy series my sister recommended, Shadow & Bone (loved it) followed by all the latest Real Housewives episodes. I’ve taken one long bath per night, done a bit of yoga, walked laps around the living room while listening to podcasts, even had a couple solo dance parties.

Now it’s the weekend and, without the calls and urgent tasks of the work week, I find myself here, starting this blog to document my new life adventure. Perhaps only my parents will read this, perhaps more. Regardless, I’ll be happy to have the record of this time in my life.

View of Jakarta sunrise from the hotel window.

As I think about next week - the move to my new home in Bali - I feel…scared. I left my career and moved in with my parents in early 2019, expecting to be there for just one year before launching into a new life somewhere else. I didn’t do much socializing during that year, because I figured my temporary status meant meeting new friends locally wasn’t worth the time and energy. Of course, that year turned into two and a half as I waited for the pandemic to abate. During that time I’ve done a LOT of self-reflection. I’ve realized all the ways I was participatory in creating a life I didn’t want. How easy it is for me to be the person people want me to be, or self-deprecate in order to make everyone around me feel more comfortable. Now it’s time to flex these muscles of self actualization in the real world, with real strangers. I’m scared of falling into old habits as I venture back out into the world. I want to create a different life, one in which I can be comfortable in my authenticity, but I don’t even know what that life looks like. I don’t yet know who that Bonnie is…

But i’m excited to meet her.