BRIGHT AFTERNOON as Luna set foot at Soekarno-Hatta airport. This is her first flight, her first time on an airplane. First time abroad. On her own. Not to neighboring countries like Malaysia or Singapore. But to a city near the North Pole.
Named Vaasa
The atmosphere is lively but peaceful. Everyone looks happy. A Videotron hanging from the top of the wall immediately caught her attention. She opened the Travel itinerary to check the Flight Gate.
Jakarta, Indonesia (CGK) – Singapore, Singapore (SIN) Singapore Airlines, SQ161. Depart 5.00 pm - Arrives 7.35 pm Flight Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Transiting in Singapore she had to change planes to Bangkok, stop over in Denmark, then continue the flight to Sweden, and the trip would end in Vaasa, Finland.
"So, when are you going to Vaasa, Luna?" Anders' voice in the Indonesian accent came to her ears.
"Don't worry Anders, one day we'll meet there" reply Luna calmly.
The girl looked up at the red sky through the wide-open glass window, sitting in front of the computer while Anders stood behind, unpacking Luna's Kenary Box.
The gloaming scenery, which is dominated by blue, white, and orange colors, looks gorgeous, it so strongly attracted Luna's attention that she didn't know that Anders had quietly left her cubicle.
Vaasa, what does it look like, only know the name upon working there. She just simply answer the question with confidence never doubting how she could fly over there. She only remembered a large painting of a forest with tall trees hanging in the meeting room. According to Allan, it was a scenery of a Vaasa.
After the CSO department owned by a factory in Finland closed its office in Indonesia, and Luna was transferred to the Sales Department at her marketing agent office, Luna received training for the first time.
The training participants consist of appointed employees in each Network Company around the world, which consists of 70 countries. And Luna represents Indonesia. She never thought there would be such an event. Training at the DOER Company's Head Quarter, Vaasa.
The Sunniest City in Finland.
***
The BOEING 777 Jet Singapore Airlines flight SQ161 started to run slowly. Luna fastened her seat belt while watching the cabin crew demonstrate safety procedures.
Ah, the stewardess was her childhood dream. In her mind, being a flight attendant is the only profession that can take her around the world.
She was insistent in this profession that she didn't miss any single opportunity to walk in an interview to become a Cabin Crew, both inside and outside the city. Many times she tried, but her efforts were in vain and failed miserably. She had to stop her effort as her age was no longer able to meet the requirements.
Expired date.
Disappointed? Never asked. All the effort has been done to fulfill the requirements, but the results were nothing.
Once, to get rid of her minus eyes, Luna visited an alternative medicine place far away, a remote place not existing on the map. Luna met so many patients waiting in line to fill the place, some were sick with breast cancer, some were exposed to witchcraft, and some wives had lost their husbands, it seems that Luna is the only one whose disease is despicable, her eyes are minus zero point five.
However, the disappointment was soon remedied by the presence of Ersa, a distant cousin. Never thought Luna had such a beautiful sister. Her body posture is slender, her clean skin, and her black and loose hair make her the center of attention, and ah it feels like if she were a flight attendant, she would immediately be accepted.
In her brain it seemed there was only a flight attendant profession.
"Air hostess?" Ersa raised her eyebrow as Luna suggested joining the interview.
"Do you want to be a flight attendant?" she asked back. "Huh, I would never never never want to!!! she stop uninterested, "I was even offered that position, without a test. just in, but I refuse outright!"
"WHATTT?" Now Luna was flabbergasted. "Seriously? Why?" she asked in shock. Doesn't she know if there are people who are desperately trying but can't, just can't, uh, this beautiful creature who was given the privilege of getting a golden opportunity for free, rejects it? Why?
"SCARED," Ersa replied lightly. No burden. No regrets.
Instantly floated all the turmoil in Luna's heart.
It turns out that there is such a reason. Afraid. Very simple. Luna laughed. Amused. Felt silly about herself. It's been a ridiculous joke in the game of life.
**
The wheels of the plane were moving slowly on the Runaway and stopped, it felt like at the start of a running race, the referee started the count while holding up a small flag in his hand. The whistle was ready in his mouth. After stopping for a moment at the dividing line the plane was moving, the vibrations of the wheels touching the road surface.
She felt the louder the vibrations, the louder, the louder, and the sound of the engine rumbling and the light no longer felt the vibrations of the road, the wheels of the plane took off the runway.
Her heart also flew
The plane landed at Changi exactly at the time. So fast, the journey from home to the airport takes approximately 3 hours, and the flight from the airport to Singapore is only 1 hour. There is a time difference of one hour ahead of Jakarta time. Luna adjusted her watch according to the information from the flight attendant just before landing.
The moon and stars are scattered in the Singapore sky, and the bright full moon and shining stars seem to welcome Luna's arrival from above the Singapore sky. She smiled back.
What a wonderful night!
***
Singapore, Singapore (SIN) – Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)
Scandinavian Airlines SK0972 Depart 10.10 pm - Arrives 11.35 pm
Flight Time: 2 hours and 25 minutes
Airbus A340 Jet
Luna immediately looked for a Gate for her connecting flight. SCANDINAVIAN. Ah, it feels so good to hear that word. As if something rippled in her blood when she heard that name.
LIKE FALLING IN LOVE AT FIRST HEARING.
A group of beautiful flight attendants walked quickly ahead of her. Everyone seemed rushed yet in an elegant and professional way. The smell of perfume left behind made her stay in the vortex of the profession even though they had passed far in front of her.
Boarding Time.
The Jet Plane is much bigger than before. Unlike Asian airfreight flight attendants that are mostly young and beautiful, these Scandinavian flight attendants are looking more senior because of their large stature and blonde hair.
Throwing back the serving style of the Asian flight attendant who always smiles with the body slightly leaning forward when offering refreshments, "Would you like some tea or coffee?". In Scandinavian, they just ask flatly "Tea, Coffee?" With a straight body.
Oh, is this what it is called Culture? Luna thought to herself, smiling.
Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) – Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH)
Departs: 12.40 am Arrives: 6.30 am
Flight time: 11 hours and 50 minutes. AIRBUS A340 JET
Luna fell asleep and she didn't realize that some of the passengers had disembarked in Bangkok. And the empty seats were filled by passengers from Bangkok to Denmark. She was so surprised when she woke up the passenger sitting on the right and left sides exchange. It felt like Luna was alone, the only one on the plane who had a smaller posture, which was Asia.
The old song CARABAO Memory of Bangkok instantly flashed through her head. Her heart also sang along with the musical accompaniment.
Made in Thailand and made in USA...
Lost along the way...
And this will be the longest flight on this trip. Luna fell asleep, woke up, and sleep again, and woke up again and couldn't tell when it was day or night. The flight crossed different time zones.
Inflight movies are the only entertainment available.
The old film Slumdog Millionaire managed to make her shed tears forgetting where she was. Finally came the opportunity to watch it after a long time the film has been stored in her subconscious.
She swept a glance around her, from right to left, front and back, all of the messengers were fast asleep with blankets covering some of their bodies. Silence.
From the screen in front of her, she knew the plane had now crossed the Bay of Bengal. Across the plains of India and the Arabian Sea, through the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. For countless times Luna fell asleep again and woke up when a flight attendant woke up offering a warm wet towel saying.
"Tea? Coffee?"
"Thank you" she answered quietly.
Dehydration.
***
Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) – Stockholm Arlanda, Sweden (ARN) Scandinavian Airlines, SK1416. Depart 8.20 am – Arrives 9.35 am
Flight Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas MD-80
Fortunately, she has a sufficient connecting flight schedule, because it turns out that the Departure Gate to Sweden is far from the arrival gate.
Although many people were passing by with warm clothes covering their bodies, the atmosphere was quiet because of a small drizzle outside. She was stranded alone at Kastrup, Copenhagen airport.
'In this cold, dark night, a barefoot little girl walking in the street...'
Heyyy!!!!! I was in the birthplace of The Match Girl author, Hans Christian Anderson. The childhood story, which is more than 170 years old, is back in her memory.
It was the single most memorable childhood story for her.
One by one what had settled in her subconscious appeared every time Luna set foot in a new place. She was almost carried away by the sad story of the match girl who ended up freezing to death when suddenly her body almost collided with an adult man.
"UPPSS... SSSORRRYY." They said in unison. It was almost unbelievable, the corridors along this airport were so vast, and how could two people from opposite directions almost collide?
Luna gasped. She seemed to have known this man before. But don't know where.
"Have you ever met me before?" asked the man.
A strange question.
Luna shrugged and shook her head. The man looked very calm and dignified. The brief introduction was memorable enough, but they must continue their journey. In the end, they just exchanged business cards.
And a feeling left behind
Ahh... where have you been dreaming? Olala... the match girl didn't freeze to death. But she meets a handsome man who is now playing in the garden of her heart...
It's exciting!
***