Baby Rai’s 1st Plane Trip

Disclaimer
This post was made continuously for around a week, so if there are some confusing timeline, please understand it.

So..for those of you who follow my tweets regularly (you can check it from the right side of this page), you’d know that this week I will go to Semarang to join a workshop & since I cannot be separated too long from babyndut, of course I’ll bring him along, sekalian pulang kampung. I almost can’t remember when was my last pulkam..it was almost 2 years a go..way before I got pregnant..pheew! Therefore, I was beyond excited for this trip..especially since I will take my dear baby for his 1st airplane trip!

Since last week I begun sounding to my mom & my sister that I’ll go to Semarang and tell them that if they will not spare their time to babysit babyrai I will not bring him along. Of course they’re also excited to meet babyrai, and my mother volunteered herself to be a full time babysitter without any further thinking.

At first, I planned to go directly to Semarang and meet babyrai’s fans there. But then something came up. There’s a SIM Keliling vehicle in my office and suddenly I realized that my driving license already expired since last March! I cannot renew it at SIM Keliling because it is not Jakarta based. And even when I checked my old hometown KTP, it was expired last March also!! Super dodol! Of course I can make a new Jakarta based SIM using my Jakarta KTP. But I’m too lazy to spend some time & effort to go through the tests again. Therefore, I changed my trip plan from CGK-SMG-CGK to CGK-JOG-CGK instead, and planned 1 day off for renewing my KTP and driving licence back home.

So I purchased the airplane ticket to go to Semarang via Jogja (after I beg my boss to allow me to do that..nyahaha..I love you boss!) by Garuda. Being under 2 years old and still considered as an infant, babyrai only entitled 10% from my ticket fare, with no seat of course.Teehee! And finally I made the hotel booking on Friday, after changing hotels 3 times.

1 Day Before
1 day prior the D Day, we were very2 busy. Last Friday was Bang Ojie (abang’s older brother)’s birthday, and we planned to go to Pd. Gede to celebrate it with the whole family at Saturday. At the same day, we had an ‘akikah’ invitation from my office friend in Depok also. So we had to drive some of the family members to Pd. Gede (the rest went later after picking up abang’s cousin at the airport), then went to Depok for the ‘akikah’ party, stop by at Tifa to pick my large suitcase (I don’t want to bring many luggage since I’m travelling only with babyrai, so 1 big suitcase should be enough to hold our things together), back to Pd. Gede. Babyrai also had swimming appointment with Ian & Nai that afternoon before we went back to Sunter at night.

I started packing at 9 PM and I did it with tears. Why? Because I told you many times that I hate packing! And that nite I had to remember my things and babyrai’s things and arrange them into 1 big suitcase & 1 laptop-slash-diaper-bag to bring into the cabin. Thanks to my dearest husband, he helped me to go through the packing chaos.

It’s not important to details my things here. I only brought some clothes (working suits, pajamas, undies), my CERA lappie (it’s a must said the workshop EO), and of course my breastfriend the Medela Mini Electric bpump to make me sure that babyrai got his milk supplies while I was busy at the meeting room. And what did I bring for babyrai? Plenty! Here’s the details:

• clothes (undies, onesies, tshirts, shorts, pajamas, some cotton cloth for wiping his saliva drops) enough for 4 days only, since I’d use the hotel laundry facility.
• dispo diapers (I brought the 44’s pack). Yeah, I know I can buy it at the nearest supermarket, but I prefer to be prepared so I included that bulky thingie also.
• 4 milk bottles along with 4 teats
• 5 bags & 2 bottles of EBM along with some blue ices(I prepared the bags since 2 previous days since it’s lighter than glass bottle and has minimum risks of broken within the coolerbag)
• his traveling toiletries in teeny tiny bottles, cotton balls, wet & dry tissues
• some meds (transpulmin BB, tempra drops, thrombopop and bioplacenton)
• babyrai’s favourite toys (a bath book, his lamb doll, and his pampa doll)
• thick baby bedcover for his sleeping mat along with 1 swaddle cloth and 1 blanket
• nursing apron & my cottonink shawl for covering babyrai from the plane cold AC

All of those things (including the EBMs & coolerbag) went in to the big suitcase, except 3 diapers, some cotton cloth, nursing apron, my shawl, 1 baby jacket, 1 onesie that went along with my laptop & wallet into my ashley bag to be carried inside the plane cabin.

If I didn’t have to bring my laptop, I’d be glad to carry the cooler bag into the cabin. But since I only have 2 hands and they’re already full with my babyrai & laptop-slash-diaper bag, I put the EBMs inside the coolerbag inside the suitcase. But before, I wrap it with big plastic bag of course to avoid leakiness.

And finally I was able to sleep.

The D Day
I woke up & bath babyrai at the dawn because we got a morning flight (EDD 07.45 AM). When we got at the airport, abang dropped me off at the departure gate to check in while he and babyrai find the good spot to park babyblackie.

I have to tell you this before I forgot. If you’re travelling with infant using Garuda Economy class, ask them to check you in at row 5 seat (the first row right behind the business class seats). Why? Because the 5 row seats have the tiny baby oxygen masks and they got enough space to put the baby basinet which you could order while you check in if necessary.  I didn’t order one yesterday because I know babyrai would be more comfortable sitting on my lap rather than lying inside the bassinet.

After the check in process finished, I met abang and babyrai outside, sit for a while and then me & babyrai said our goodbye and off we went to the lounge to find some comfortable place to rest. By the way busway, I used to love Citibank Emerald Skylounge or whatever its name because it’s way more comfortable than any other lounge in SKH airport. It was quieter and there were no unnecessary disturbance. However I change my point of view yesterday because the atmosphere there was changed. Now, like other lounge, there were some other-bank-credit-card-salespersons who came to each guest at the lounge and talk them to apply their cc. I hate it! I want to be able to relax in the lounge, not to be offered with some stupid credit cards!! Especially when I hold a baby who’s constantly move and struggle to be put on the couch so he can roll his body rather than sit on his mommy’s lap. Grrrrh! I don’t know why Citibank allowed those parasites to hunt inside the lounge, but it was really really really disturbing! Thank God I didn’t stay long at the lounge.

So we move to the departure gate. We had to take the shuttle bus to bring us to the plane which park quite far from the gate. Imagine me, carrying an almost 9kgs baby by hand, without a carrier (I’m way more comfort carrying my baby by hand than using any carrier or slings) plus around 3,5kgs laptop-slash-diaper bag and NONE OF THE SITTING PASSENGERS OFFER THEIR SEAT TO ME! There goes the Indonesian politeness..

Inside The Plane
As I told you before, we got the 5th row seat. Mine was seat no. 5e, in the middle of two bapak2, so you can imagine how blushed I am when I have to ‘buka warung’ and breastfeed babyrai? Apalagi seatnya walopun udah di 5th row pan sempit gituh. Tapi bodo amir deh, demi anak malu ditelan mentah2 aja. Oya, sebelumnya I made sure I’m wearing nursing tee to make me easier when I have to breastfeed my baby.

Although I feel oh-so-well-prepared because I already gather many informations regarding travelling with baby in an airplane and that I have to breastfeed him during take off and landing, the reality is not that easy. When we were seated and the stewardess gave me the exended infant seatbelt and strapped it to babyrai, he begun his tantrum. He cried and whined and struggled to be released from the seatbelt. But of course I didn’t release him, and to take his mind of the seatbelt I had to breastfeed him before the plane took off, in front of everybody, without having time to put on my nursing appron *sigh*. Thank God I’m wearing my cottonink shawl. So, I covered him and my breast with the shawl instead.

After 10 minutes breastfed and the plane started to move to the runway, babyrai started to struggle and cried again *sigh*. Now he begun to cry louder and louder and everybody start to stare at me, a-mommy-who-failed-to-calm-her-cranky-baby-with-unbuttoned-shirt-and-one-of-her-b**b-was-still-slightly-visible-somehow. Oowww…what would you do if you’re me? I chose to button my shirt seadanya dulu without even bother to snap the flap in front of my nursing bra, and tried to serenade babyrai while moving him into different position until he became comfortable. It took me a while until suddenly I realized that he’s just too tired and sleepy (I woke him up at dawn time, remember?). Finally after I positioned him facing down my chest (with his seatbelt still fastened), he begun to fall asleep. And the plane took off. Pheeewwww.

So, all those theories I browsed prior to the trip was unapplied. When the plane took off, my baby already fell into deep sleep that I couldn’t even put my fingers into his mouth so he could suck it. So, all I could do at that time is pray and hope that he’d be okay and his ears wouldn’t get hurt by the suddenly changing altitude. And all I could do during the 45 minutes trip was cuddling him and cover him with my cottonink shawl to protect him from the cold AC inside the cabin.

After-Land
After the 45 minutes passed, we finally landed at Jogja Adisucipto airport. Babyrai was still soundly asleep up until I gave him to my mom who were already waited at the arrival gate. So, if we could ask him how was his first plane trip memory, I’m sure that he could only remember his dream. Teehee .

As soon as I collect my luggage, off we went to Semarang via Magelang. We had brunch first at Resto Pringsewu at Jl. Magelang. Had a good time there, trying to learn how to do card magic tricks. And finally after around 3,5 long hours and 2 times diaper changing in the car, we landed at Semarang. Grab the stroller and baby bath tub which are borrowed from my cousin’s baby, and checked in at the hotel.

The Broken EBM Bag Accident
The first thing I did after got inside my room was to check my EBMs. As I told you before, I packed the EBMs using Gerber EBM plastic bags, which I collected from the previous 2 days. Those bags were put inside my Allerhand coolerbag and kept cool by using a few blue ices. Along with around 6  EBM bags contained 150 – 200ml EBM each, I also put 2 glass bottles contained 100ml each. I wrap those 2 bottles using ziplock bag to prevent the milk from leaking if those bottles happened to be broken. I also wrap the coolerbag with a jumbo plastic bag before I put it inside my luggage to prevent wetness and leakage since the bag was put together with my clothes and babyrai’s and I didn’t trust the way airport’s porter handle the luggage although I put a few ‘FRAGILE’ stickers on the luggage.

And my worries came true! When I opened my luggage, nothing seems peculiar. But when I opened the jumbo plastic bag which covered my coolerbag, I found that the coolerbag already wet inside out. Uh oh…..
I opened the insulated part, and found that one of the bag (not the bottle) was broken. And it was the 200ml bag, and the content was spilled everywhere. Tears suddenly run through my eyes.
Those 200ml was collected ml by ml. Higs.
But I don’t want to sob longer. I checked the other bags and bottles, alhamdulillah they remain intact. So, I just moved them inside the room’s fridge and clean the coolerbag by spraying it with water and give it to Dian to laundry it at home.

I know I was so sad finding out that those 200ml was wasted. But I know that’s the risk if I put it inside the checked luggage, not to bring it by hand inside the cabin. At least the other were intact and still in the good condition as well.

The Crisis of EBM Bags, Breastpads & Baby Bottle Detergent
Our activity for the next days were not interested at all ’cause I spent most of the days sitting in the workshop, and babyrai & his Yangti were spending time together in the room, so I don’t need to elaborate more here.

However, there is some incidents happened during the trip. Last Monday I just realized that I brought the washable breastpads, not the disposable ones. And I had a hard time washing them. I couldn’t wash it in the bath room cause it takes time for them to dry. And I couldn’t laundry them at the hotel laundry since I just feel it’s not appropriate aja gitu loh.

And at the same day, I also realized that my small bottle of Pigeon bottle liquid cleanser has only small amount left inside. God, I forgot to refill it before the trip.

To make it worst, when I pumped at night, I realized that I got only 5 Gerber EBM bags left. WTH! It would only enough for the next day. And for all I know, it was hard to find EBM bags in Semarang. I didn’t know where the babyshops are, and for sure there are no Mothercare store there. Shoot!

I finally made a drastic decision. I texted abang and told him to buy me 2 boxes of Gerber EBM bags and 1 box of Pigeon dispossable breastpads and send me directly using the fastest courier delivery. And, being the best husband I know, he did it! He managed to go to ITCK and bought me those things and send it ASAP to my hotel room. Yaaay! I love you, daddimika!

And what about the bottle liquid cleanser? Since I had a cousin living nearby the hotel and she decided to visit my mom and the baby, so I asked her to buy me a refill one. And dear cousin managed to bring me one the next day, along with 2 bars of chocolate and again…a box of dispo breastpads..hihi..can’t have enough of them.

Thank God, crisis solved without me having to get out of the hotel.

The Early Forced Departure
Everything went well and smooth for the next days. I was busy and surprisingly having fun learning at the workshop, babyrai and his grandma were enjoying their 24/7 companionship. Up until Wednesday night when I opened my office email, and found out the bad news. My bosses would like me to go back to Jakarta, and standby at the office on Friday. WTH!

Suddenly I got dizzy. It changed all my plans. I supposed to follow the workshop up until Friday afternoon, and then at Saturday I already got the appointment to renew my KTP and SIM. If I had to standby at the office on Friday, I wouldn’t have time to do it. And then, my trip will be total waste of time, since I would not pass the workshop because I won’t be there during the post test, and I would be an ID-less person. Crap!

The next day, I couldn’t concentrate more. I tried to contact my bosses. I made a lie telling them that I didn’t get the seat for Thursday of Friday morning flight, so the earliest time I could be at the office would be Friady afternoon (I decided to do the ID renewal on Friday morning, and catch the fastest plane next).

What I didn’t exppect was…my bosses find me the seat for Thursday afternoon & night flight! On the other word…they really really FORCED me to be at the office since Friday morning. Period. Crap..crap..crap!

However, I didn’t give up easily. I asked the workshop EO for an early post test that morning, told my mom to pack everything, called my father to pick us up and drive us home ASAP so I’d still got time for ID renewal, and confirm the seat on Thursday’s last flight.

I managed to do the early post test, my mom packed as fast as she could, my daddy and sista arrived with a light speed, but finally…I just wanted to spend my last hours with my family without being rushed here and there. I wanted them to have the time to play and cuddle babyrai as much as they want before our flight at 8.00 pm that day. So…I say goodbye to ID renewals. I decided to be ID less person for about 1,5 month up to mid of July when I’ll be back home again to attend my sista’s engagement party.

Everybody happy. I checked out the hotel at noon, and off we went to Jogja via Salatiga, Boyolali, Klaten, not via Magelang anymore. And I had a good time doing culinary tourism. We stopped by at Toko Roti Tegal and Wonder Bakery in Salatiga (they had the best roti kelapa and bagelen coklat), and we had late luch at warung Tegal in Boyolali (God, their pecel + otak goreng + semur bola daging still made me drool until now!).

And after we only spent around half an hour at home (for babyrai’s bath and my shower), off we went to Adisucipto Airport for our departure trip back to Jakarta. I also put my EBMs resulted from these last days pump inside my mom’s freezer to use next month when we’re there, so I don’t have to bring any EBMs anymore.

We waited for the boarding  time inside the Blue Sky Lounge, and there’s a small incident happened. When the announcer anounced our boarding time, and babyrai’s ready to say goodbye to his grandparents, suddenly there’s a familiar odour coming out from his bottom. Wakakak!

So, Mom, Dian and myself worked like  F1 pitstop crew and changed his diaper as fast as we could at the lounge couch. Teehee.

At The Plane Back To Jakarta
There’s not much to tell about the trip. We got the 8th row seat, not the 5th row, but the checkin counter girl was nice enough to give us two seats next to each other so we could have a wider space. And as the depart trip, babyrai also slept all the time, after breastfed during the return trip. He even still slept when I handed him to his daddy waiting at the CGK airport, and still slept until he landed into his bed.

Back To The Office

Yesterday, when I got back to the office, I was still pissed at my bosses. Why? Because I found out that the office was almost empty that morning. Almost everybody went to Jogja for a meeting. And there was not any urgent or important matter I should handle that day. In fact, I DIDN’T WORK AT ALL! Stupid bosses with their stupid arrogancy! I wish I wouldn’t be like him when I’m on their position someday!

Tips and Tricks
So we learned a few things during babyrai’s first airplane trip. And here I have a few things to share with you if you’re travelling alone with a baby who is still breastfed using airplane. Here they are:

1. A baby and a laptop is not exactly a best combination. Try to bring the lightest luggage as possible inside the cabin if you’re travelling alone with the baby.
2. Try to bring your EBM inside the coolerbag to the cabin, instead of putting it inside the checked in luggage to minimize the damage.
3. Prepare everything carefully or at least find out where is the nearest babyshop in your destination where you can find any baby necesities without having to be sent. For example : dispo diapers, you can always find it almost anywhere, so you don’t have to bring too many.
4. And just borrow the other things that you can borrow from the people you now in your destination, so you wouldn’t have to bring your own stroller or car seat or babytub.
5. Make your baby as comfort as he would like inside the airplane. If he doesn’t want to be feed, don’t push him. Just make him comfortable.
6. Last but not least, just enjoy the trip. If you enjoy it and have a good time, your baby will also enjoy it.

Bon Voyage!