Have Perut Will Travel...: CGK Day 4 │ Soekarno-Hatta to KLIA • MH712!

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Saturday, 21 February 2026

CGK Day 4 │ Soekarno-Hatta to KLIA • MH712!

Leaving Jakarta at First Light

We woke early in Jakarta, the room still cool and quiet, and packed our last things with that familiar mix of calm and anticipation. The hallway smelled of light morning rain, the elevator hummed softly, and dropping our key into the mailbox felt like the small, decisive click that starts a travel day. A Bluebird taxi carried us to Soekarno–Hatta Terminal 3 for IDR196,500 (≈ MYR45/USD12/EUR10), the city drifting past in slow, grey blue morning light.

Terminal 3: Bright, Smooth, Simple

Terminal 3 opened around us in wide glass and warm sun. Travellers moved in steady waves, the air smelled of coffee and pastries, and the whole place felt like a clean reset. Security moved quickly, immigration gave us that old school shuffle and the satisfying thunk of an exit stamp, and suddenly we were through—lighter, freer, already shifting into travel mode.

The Cake Mission

Before boarding, we had one goal: find Cat’s favourite layered cake. Lapis Lapis looked perfect but the price made us pause. Discover Indonesia saved the day—bright shelves, familiar packaging, and the exact cake we wanted. Two boxes, IDR500,000 (≈ MYR116/USD30/EUR25), no hesitation. With the mission complete, we stopped at ACGK Expresso Bar for sandwiches and coffee for IDR470,319 (≈ MYR109/USD28/EUR24), letting the warm drinks settle our nerves before the long walk to Gate 5.

Boarding MH712

The boarding call for MH712 came at 10:40am, sharp and clear. Sitting in Row 6 meant we slipped into the cabin early, avoiding the usual slow crawl of passengers and overhead bins. The cabin smelled clean, the lights were soft, and we settled in quickly. At noon, the plane pushed back. Fifteen minutes later, Jakarta dropped away beneath us and the clouds opened like a soft white road.

Six Days That Stayed With Us

As the plane climbed, the past week replayed in small, vivid scenes.

We chose to travel instead of following our usual Lunar New Year routine, looking for rest rather than busy plans. Yogyakarta welcomed us gently, and we moved through the city slowly—walking Malioboro, doing laundry, drinking coffee, eating simple meals, and watching daily life unfold. We did not rush. We let small moments guide us. The Ramayana Ballet showed us the city’s deep cultural heart, and Borobudur, visited on Lunar New Year morning, gave us a quiet sense of renewal. After that, we rested, ate well, and said goodbye to Yogyakarta without sadness, feeling complete.

Jakarta was louder and bigger, with rain, traffic, and changing plans. We explored by MRT and malls, enjoyed food courts and cafés, and learned to adjust our expectations. Some places disappointed us, others surprised us. An unexpected piece of good news turned an ordinary day into a joyful one. We ended our adventures tired but calm, carrying home not just memories, but a slower rhythm we wanted to keep.

Landing in Kuala Lumpur

After landing, we had an unpleasant moment. Two strangers behind us began raising their voices, upset that we had stepped off the plane before them, even though everything followed the usual order. It felt like misdirected frustration, but we stayed calm and kept moving. The feeling passed once we reached the main walkway and felt the comfort of being home again.

MyBorderPass sped us through Immigration, our bags rolled out at Carousel H, and the KLIA Express carried us smoothly toward the city, the landscape shifting from open airport roads to dense towers.

The True End of the Journey

At KL Sentral, we tapped out at the turnstile, and Brendan waited with a smile. That soft beep marked the real end of the trip—the moment the journey stopped being movement and became memory.

Next Up

More stories are coming—next stop, a birthday in a new country.