I thought my next post would come from the rainforest in Borneo but unfortunately as I was leaving Amsterdam Tuesday evening I met travel challenges.  First was a 90 minute delay on KLM departing Amsterdam for Singapore.  A departure interruption on what was already a 12 hour flight was a drag, but also added stress because in Singapore I had a connecting flight for Jakarta, Indonesia.

My late arrival to Singapore and shortened transit wasn’t smooth.  Though only scheduled to be there for three hours in which I didn’t leave the airport, I was required to fill out a “Singapore Arrival Card”.  Of course I didn’t learn this until spending 20 minutes in line then reached the immigration counter.  I was sent back to find the “Entry Kiosks” to do some pain in the butt paperwork.

Eventually I immigrated, collected my luggage, went through customs, took a train from Terminal 2 to 3, rechecked my bag with Batik Airlines for Jakarta then emigrated out of Singapore.  Somehow I kept my cool through the whole thing and I caught my next flight.  I even had some time to kill near my gate and was amazed at a store that might sell every single type of coffee on the planet!

As I was boarding for Jakarta I received an email from Fajar (my guide and host once to Borneo) offering bad news.  Fajar announced a two day delay for Borneo.  Instead of flying there today (Thursday) we now leave Saturday.  The reason is that one of our boatmen where we will fish had a family emergency that involved his wife, broken legs and a motorcycle.  It sounds horrible and hopefully everyone’s ok.

I boarded my flight from Singapore for Jakarta at 9 pm and the flight took about 90 minutes.  Time doesn’t really matter at this point.  The human body enters a time warp after 30 hours on a plane and over 8,000 miles traveled.  It’s a bizarre almost out of body feeling, however a great way to start any fishing trip.  It means I’m going somewhere incredible every time.

Arrival to Indonesia was relatively easy.  I got my VISA at immigration for $35 (I didn’t pass any kiosks this time).  Next I did some modern-day QR code scan with my phone and filled out more crap with fat fingertips on my phone.  Often I miss the old days.

Once through customs I made my way by taxi to a nearby hotel called FM7 where travel mate on this trip, Austin Kane, is staying.  Austin arrived earlier yesterday so I didn’t disturb him upon my midnight arrival.  I have my own room and went to bed.  You can’t imagine how a bed feels after 36 hours of flying that involved a few hiccups!

Today turned into lounge around day.  The FM7 is pretty upscale for me.  And it’s less than $60.  The resort-like hotel included a kick butt breakfast in which I indulged on at 7 am.  Then I had another breakfast/lunch with Austin around 9 followed by a stroll around the neighborhood looking for birds and enjoying colorful rainforest flowers.

Internet is excellent so I worked until 1 pm then hit the hotel gym.  Treadmills are a true friend after sitting for nearly two solid days.  After the workout I chilled and did everything except take a nap.  When you’re faced with a 12 hour time change you want sleep, but it’s best to fight it and get the body clock on schedule.

I’ve mentioned it before on the blog and I preach it in my travel presentations, when you leave the good ole USA, pack your patience.  It’s a different world when you exit our border.  Luckily when Fajar gave Austin and I an option for six days of fishing or nine, we wisely took nine.  Even with the shortened trip we should be able to get the job done of catching a red kaloi on the fly.

In the meantime, please visit my webstore for “Christmas Gifts for the Angler that has Everything” and stuff those stockings with my fish decals from “Pescador on the Fly”.

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing