enroute Jakarta to Honolulu, Saturday, 1996-06-01 13:15Z
Finally headed home. Things got changed insofar as scheduling and whether I would be operating or deadheading several times. The final disposition was that I'm deadheading, and we didn't get left until 3 hours later than originally planned. I'm really not unhappy about not operating. It'll cost me a little money—when you're deadheading you only get half pay—but it means I'll arrive in Honolulu rested and able to jumpseat. Plus I understand this captain is not an easy man to fly with, and to sit with him for 13 hours might be a bit much.
I'd guess there's about 60 of us on the airplane all told: flight crews, a few flight attendants, mechanics, operations people—everybody needed from the standpoint of ground operations to support a 3 plane operation for a period of nearly 3 months. We've been airborne about 20 minutes, and since the local time is getting toward bedtime, people are already beginning to sack out, one entire row to a person. Actually, most of us take up 2 rows since we pull the seats off one row to double cushion another—standard practice on these ferry flights. As soon as I finish this, I'll hit the sack—after taking my set of pills, especially the imodium. <g>
It was a good Indonesian Hajj for Tower but a lousy one for that part of the operation based in Jeddah. The three Jakarta airplanes had an on time rate of 94%, and each flew just slightly over the minimum guarantee, which was $5.3 million per airplane.
It's a little choppy. Looking out the window it's a full moon shining down on scattered, puffy clouds below us, the water below. Quite beautiful, really. It needs to smooth out though, I'm having trouble hitting the correct keys. Also, it's completely dark in this part of the airplane. I think somebody forgot to arm the reading lights back here—or maybe they don't work. This is our “piece of shit” airplane. It's a leased airplane, Irish registry, and is a real odd ball. The only trouble they had on the Indonesian Hajj was due to this airplane. The Indonesians said they don't want to see it over here again.
While we were waiting to get going, lots of stories were, of course, being related of experiences on the Hajj. The cutest one I can remember concerned one of our guys who overheard half of a phone conversation between an Indian at a dive shop in Jeddah (diving in the Red Sea off Jeddah is quite good) and, apparently, an employee of the shop. The Indian had gotten to know the Tower crew member a little and felt free to speak in front of him. The crew member noticed the Indian was getting quite agitated over the phone. Finally, he screams into the instrument, “Ensha'allah, ensha'allah, you say. Fuck ensha'allah. If you're not here in the morning, you're fired.” You have to appreciate the Saudi outlook to see the real humor in that. Ensha'allah (there are numerous spellings) means “in the will of Allah” or “if Allah wills it”. The Saudis constantly use that as an excuse for anything they don't wish to do. They'll also use it to preface many things, like their estimate to air traffic control of when they're going to arrive over a certain point. They feel the future belongs to Allah, so they have to cover their religious asses by acknowledging that they'll arrive there only if Allah wills it. Anyway, to all of us here the fact that an Indian would become so exasperated and be so bold as to say “fuck ensha'allah” is extremely funny.
The Saudis have another saying, roughly spelled “salam-aleykum”. It means, again roughly, “the peace of Allah be upon you,” and they use it as a general greeting. I didn't use it when I called Jeddah approach control on the first trip in, and we were ignored for several minutes, resulting in our being too high on the approach. The second time in I was careful to preface my first call with “salam-aleykum”. We were immediately answered and given clearance to descend. Coincidence. Maybe, but I think not. I've really had it with the reglionists of this world.
Hmm, we're moving over another big island, probably Bali.
I found out the hotels, or at least the Hilton Hotel in Jakarta is more liberal that I had thought. It seems that on Friday and Saturday night, both female and male prostitutes are available in the main lobby, which is huge. It's very low key. I didn't notice it, but one of the other crew members pointed it out. They're well dressed and very discreet apparently. Obviously the Indonesian brand of Islam is vastly different from the Saudi Arab brand.
We should hit Honolulu about 16:00 on the 1st, about 4 hours before we left Jakarta date wise thanks to crossing the international date line. I'll either try for a jumpseat right away or spend the night there and go out first thing in the morning.
Time to crawl into my little full-row bed.
Terry