Planning the Escape
This wasn’t the Chinese New Year trip we expected. One moment we were talking about the usual drive back to Kuala Terengganu for Imlek, and the next we were scrolling for flight deals, half joking about going somewhere new. The cheapest option pointed straight to Yogyakarta (https://bit.ly/4rIW3jl). It felt spontaneous and strangely perfect.
We were also too tired to prepare the ancestral house in KT—always more work than we admit. Cat suggested Bangkok again, but we wanted a change. Yogyakarta, with no plans and no expectations, became our pick.
Building the Route
Piecing together a multi‑city route turned out to be fun. After comparing fares and checking luggage rules, we settled on:
- AirAsia AK348, KUL → YIA: RM434.67 (20kg)
- Batik Air ID6379, YIA → CGK: RM226.05 (20kg)
- Malaysia Airlines MH710, CGK → KUL: RM345.43 (25kg)
Total: RM1,006 per person—about USD255/EUR217.
Why Yogyakarta?
Yogyakarta offered a rare balance: ancient temples, a calm cultural rhythm, and a sense of place that didn’t feel staged. We’ve always been drawn to temples—not just as sights, but as spaces where time slows down. Yogya promised that, plus slow days, good food, and history woven into daily life.
It felt like the right kind of reset for the new year: gentle, grounded, and refreshing without being overwhelming.
Getting to the Airport
We left home at eleven. Brendan was going to start work soon and couldn’t join us, but since it was a Sunday, they kindly drove us to KL Sentral. Because we were flying AirAsia, we couldn’t check bags at KL CAT (https://bit.ly/4bJxgHm), but we still took the train to KLIA2 to save time.
KLIA2 greeted us with its usual mix of bustle and calm.
We kept our check in simple at KLIA2 by using AirAsia’s self service system. First, we checked in online through the AirAsia app, which saved us a lot of time. When we reached the airport, we went straight to the self check in kiosks to print our boarding passes and baggage tags.
After tagging our bags, we walked over to the Self Baggage Drop area and sent our luggage through the machine without waiting in a long counter line. With everything done, we headed to security and made our way to the gate.
The whole process was quick, smooth, and easy to follow — perfect for a busy airport like KLIA2. We then passed through immigration using the MyBorderPass auto gates—a small but welcome convenience.
With everything done, we slipped into that familiar airport rhythm: wandering past bright shops, breathing in warm coffee scents, and letting the holiday mood settle in.
The Unthinkable Happened
At Urban Food Court, just before the escalator to Gate P17, I reached into my bag for my wallet—and realised I had left it at home.
Thankfully, Brendan was still home. We asked them to drive all the way to KLIA2 with the wallet. In the meantime, I negotiated my way back through security and Customs and waited at Departure Door 2.
Brendan arrived—ironically—at two. I made my way back through the checkpoints again and reunited with Cat at Urban Food Court. We then headed down to our gate. Crisis averted.
Boarding and the Flight
Our gate had changed to P15, and boarding had already begun by the time we arrived.
Boarding AirAsia AK348 at a quarter to three felt like the true start of our Lunar New Year escape. The cabin glowed softly as everyone settled in. We tucked into our seats, ready for a change of scenery.
Take‑off brought its usual quiet thrill. Afternoon light faded into evening as we climbed. We shared a small snack, dozed lightly, and let the hum of the engines carry us into that peaceful mid‑flight calm. The crew kept everything smooth and pleasant.
Arrival in Yogyakarta
Just ninety minutes later, we landed at 6:05pm local time. A glitch in the auto gates meant we had to get manually stamped in, so immigration took a bit longer. But our bags arrived quickly, Customs was easy, and the warm Yogyakarta air greeted us like a gentle welcome.
Hello, Yogyakarta—our unplanned, perfectly timed Imlek getaway.
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