That Eleventh Hour Intuition
‘Follow That Voice and The Rest Will Just Fall into Place’
June 2016
After having spent a month in Bali, and maxing out my 30 day Visa on Arrival, it was time for a visa run. I headed to Singapore for the weekend, where my friends’ parents were living as they had kindly offered to put me up for those nights I was in town.
I had initially thought about finishing my time in Indonesia on a 2 week Surf Camp (SurfCampLombok) after my friend Nessi’s recommendation. Only, my umm-ing and ahh-ing that had spanned over the weeks leading up to camp, had resulted in me missing out on the last spot that I wanted (oops). They were booked up for the last two weeks of May and I wanted to be back in London by June 1st for my sister’s hen getaways.
After two days in Singapore, I was ready to leave but I had no idea where I was going next. All I knew was, I’d be at the airport on Sunday to catch a flight. Somewhere.
Sunday arrived. I woke up to the sun glaring through the wall sized windows of my room (beats any alarm clock). And now, I still needed to pack before making my way to the airport.
After squishing all my clothes, books and random essentials into my backpack while throwing away any other unessentials that just weren’t worth the hassle of clearing through security, I was ready to go.
But where was I going? I still hadn’t booked my flight.
I messaged my friend Vic, hoping for some sort of sign. She had left me with the following words of wisdom:
‘..doesn’t matter if it makes the least sense just go where you want to go..right decisions are overrated’
I hesitantly booked my flight, to the city that I initially found home in when I first touched down in Asia, where I had met my fellow nomads, who had made me forget life as it was back home and who felt like my new family — Bangkok. Most of them had left by now but it still had a sense of familiarity about it (partly due to the fact, it would be our company base over the summer).
Now I’m at Changi airport, Singapore. I’m not entirely sure if the airport made the Top 10 must-see sites of Singapore but it easily made my list (perhaps I’m just not very hard to please or extremely uncultured). Prepare to be mesmerised when you step into this futuristic hub. The tiny droplets of the kinetic rain display, made to mimic the joy of travelling, lures you into a trance-like state until you realise you’re at an airport and have a flight to catch!
Moments later, after pulling myself away from the creative distractions surrounding me at this maze of an airport, I check in my luggage and pass security, now able to explore the airport with time on my side. As I walk through the airport, I notice a sign for the theatre (yup they have a movie theatre here and a mall), this airport is insane and brilliant at the same time. I finally arrive at the ‘rest zone’— lined with comfortable, perfectly shaped chairs for you to catch a quick nap while you charge your phone (Why does every other airport not have this napping zone?)
After my much needed nap, from doing nothing at all that morning, I head over to the nearest spot for lunch. I still have about an hour until my flight leaves for Bangkok and after they clear my table, I’m still sat there while this random thought pops into my mind. Suddenly, I remember Vic’s words from earlier that day and it just hits home.
“Go where you want to go, not where you think you should”
‘I want to go to Lombok — not Bangkok’ I suddenly realise, with such certainty (great timing for this gut instinct to kick in Nav!)
I suddenly have no idea what comes over me or what makes me do it but nothing can stop me now. I run over to the computer lounge in the airport, excited now and my heart pumping at a million beats per second, I frantically look for the next flight to Lombok.
There is one leaving in 2 hours — well I’m already at the airport, sooo…why the hell not!? (Clearly I’m not thinking about the logistics at this point).
I book a one-way direct flight to Lombok (a flight which would normally cost around £65 has been bumped up to £130…oh well!)
Losing a few hundred pounds or a potentially awesome opportunity? Hmm
So, the only problem now is, I’m sitting in airside at the wrong terminal for the wrong flight. I walk over to the Info Desk and tell them about my new plan (thinking this would be totally normal). Their puzzled expressions tell me they think I’m slightly mad and quickly call for an Air Asia rep to come over and assist me.
So, you see the logistics that I hadn’t considered earlier, are the following:
- My luggage is on another flight — it has to be taken off the flight and released, so I can pick it up.
- I’m checked in for the wrong flight now and I’ve already been through security and been stamped out of the country.
- After getting my luggage, I will need to go to another terminal, check in again and pass security etc all in time for my next flight
- Apparently Immigration regard this situation as suspicious and want to interview me
Did I have enough time to do all of this?
I thought so.
The staff at Immigration weren’t so convinced.
The rep at Air Asia is incredibly patient and helpful and literally goes out of his way to help sort this situation out. And then he turns to me and says
‘Um so..you’re going to get questioned by Immigration, they want to speak to you. They think this is a bit suspicious’
I tell him that’s fine and understandable (although it really kind of isn’t in my head. I mean I just changed my mind and want to go to Lombok. And for some reason I seem to have my know-it-all hat on today and am SO sure I’m going to make this flight)
Minutes later, I’m being interviewed by 2 Immigration Officers. Of all the airports in the world, I reckon this is the best place for this to happen (in case you ever plan on doing this at some point in your life).
They simply can’t understand what has possessed me to do book a flight to Lombok, while sitting in airside for a flight to Bangkok.
‘Do you have family in Lombok that you were going to meet’?
‘Nope I don’t, I just really want to go to Lombok and surf’ (sure that’s a good enough reason right?!)
‘But why did you book a flight to Bangkok? This morning?!’ (Hmm good point)
‘Because this morning I didn’t realise I wanted to go to Lombok so I just booked a flight to Bangkok’
A confused and suspicious glance from the Immigration Officer (Ok I’ll give him this one, I sound pretty dodgy and I’m really not making any sense — I do sound like some deluded traveller)
‘Are you travelling alone Miss?’
‘Yup, I am. I’m travelling alone and I get that this all sounds a bit crazy. But I booked a flight to Bangkok and now I really want to go to Lombok’ (yup great, that cleared it up!)
After some more questioning from the IO, I continue to hold my stance, still feeling oddly confident, considering the circumstances. The IO is still looking at me as if I’m slightly crazy. But suddenly, I’m a nutty solo traveller, who he feels like helping now (Yay!)
‘Ok, I don’t know what you were thinking, this isn’t the way this is meant to happen. Usually people tell us first if there’s an issue, without just going ahead and booking another flight while they’re sitting in airside, so you can understand why this seems odd’.
Smiling back, I agree and tell him I have no idea how this works and that I wasn’t really thinking.
‘I’ll help you as much as I can but I’ll be shocked if you make that flight. Air Asia still have to release your luggage, you’ll have to then collect it, run to the other terminal and check in again as well as go through security. You have less than 25 minutes before they close the desk, You better run after getting your baggage’
So I run.
After all the Immigration paperwork has been signed and sorted as well as the sheer inconvenience I must have caused Air Asia, the rep helps me get my luggage back (what a legend!). I excitedly race to the other terminal (actually the train transfer really helps speed this part up).
I notice the check in desk for my flight to Lombok, hoping it’s still open (actually I kinda know it will be open — I’m definitely going to Lombok!) I run over…
I make it! A sense of massive relief rushes through my entire body, I’m here and I’m going to Lombok!
I’m the last person to check in for my flight (not really that surprising, seeing as we’re now minutes away from the check-in desk closing).
After passing security etc, I arrive at the gate with time to sit in the waiting room and re-live what just happened — And I’m SO excited about my next adventure.
It still doesn’t end there though.
After arriving in Lombok, I don’t have a place to stay so I ask the taxi driver to take me to Kuta Lombok to help me find a place for the night.
Moments after checking in to my room, which I manage to find thanks to my very patient taxi driver, I get an email notification from SurfCampLombok, saying the following:
‘Hi Nav — A spot just opened up at camp as someone dropped out last minute. I don’t suppose you could get to Gerupuk, Lombok tomorrow?’
Hell Yeah I can!
