The Garuda Business Lounge, Denpasar Bali Airport.

At the corner of the Domestic terminal in Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, lies the little oasis among the traveling crowd. The Garuda lounge serves the airline's Business Class passengers, alongside its Gold and Platinum frequent fliers.

The lounge features two stories of comfortable leather sofas, equipped with electric plugs for everyone to charge their gadgets. There are also dining tables and chairs for those wishing to refuel themselves with some bites from the buffet section.

The buffet section features a hot meal, soup, and a range of local desserts. Beverages consists of water, juices, and soft drinks are available. Hot meal of the day features a Balinese style Nasi Campur.

An outdoor smoking area is also part of the lounge, featuring a front-row seat to the actions at DPS airport tarmac.

The toilet inside the lounge premises includes a shower for those who wished to refresh themselves prior to a flight.

For those wishing to catch up with some work or surf the net, there are free-for use computer stations as well.

Conclusion

The lounge, is indeed representative towards the extent of Garuda's operation on DPS. The design of each sofa with charging points are indeed well-thought. The hot meal and beverage options are appreciated, albeit those wanting alcoholic beverages might be let down with its absence in the lounge. It is certainly a good place to spent time before your flight, although the size of the lounge itself need to be expanded, as it does quickly get too crowded on peak seasons.

Situation Update

Dear friends,

Thank you for all your concern, I have received all your messages but was very occupied lately (and limited by data roaming). I am very grateful to be showered with attention from all of you. I am alive and well in Singapore, despite several drawbacks hindering my visit to Fiji, which now will take place in 2017.

25 October 2016

Arriving safely in Singapore on 3K202 at 1235hrs local time, I checked in to my hotel at around 1400hrs. As part of procedure, my passport was verified and I was given my room key afterwards.

1435 hrs: I received my room key but not my passport back. I did not realize this and only realized it when I was leaving the hotel, the front desk woman reminded me about the passport and handed it back to me.

1500hrs: Attempting to keep my appointments in time, I received the passport and head straight out with my passport on the pocket, for lunch in Orchard and then a short visit to Novena. It was between this trip my passport has dropped off the pocket into the roads of Singapore.

1900hrs: I proceeded for a dinner at Buona Vista by MRT.

2115hrs: Conducting a last check before going back to the hotel, I realized the passport has missing. Phone calls were made into the places I had visited in the afternoon, including MRT stations that I've passed. No sightings of my passport.

2200hrs: I returned to my hotel and searched in case I have dropped it there, and it was not the case.

2300hrs: Police report was eventually made to declare the passport was missing, the diplomatic mission of Indonesia in Singapore was also made aware of this incident. Fiji flights were rescheduled by phone.

26 October 2016

My friend, Daniel had agreed to hosted me in his house as I was sorting out the legal issues of getting my passport back. I would like to extend my highest appreciation to Daniel and his parents for accepting me at their home in this time of crisis.

0945hrs: Visited the Indonesian diplomatic mission in Singapore to seek a temporary document to allow my exit from Singapore.

1330hrs: I was in a coffee shop in Plaza Singapura when I was browsing through social media, and had realized one of my friends, Hugo have left me a message. He had received a tip-off via facebook from someone who apparently have found and kept my passport securely.

1345hrs: Phone call was made to the number of the person found my passport, whom I found out as Ms Michelle. She confirmed the condition of the passport and agreed to set up the meeting to return my passport in Raffles Place.

1615hrs: I meet Ms Michelle at her office in downtown Singapore. Extending my greatest gratitude for her integrity and dedication to actually collect my passport and return it to me. I can't thank her enough for that and may God repay her kindness to me. You are certainly my hero, Madam! :)

1845hrs: I visited the Central Police HQ to inform my passport has been found. On my way back home, I checked-in my Path account on "Outram Park MRT" but geo-tagging redirected my by accident to nearby Singapore General Hospital. I only realized this mistake later when all of you messaged me. Thank you and I am grateful.

27 October 2016

1045hrs: I visited the Indonesian diplomatic mission in Singapore to inform that my passport has been found. They conducted a verification and declared my passport as valid for travel. I would like to thank the entire Indonesian diplomatic team for being responsive and helpful to my case (although initially my call to the 24-hours line was unanswered). I am proud of you guys. I am continuing my journey on a Scoot flight to Melbourne on Saturday.

I think the most important lesson is take care of yourself, and your belongings too. Always check your surroundings before you left any place for any of your stuffs, no matter how rushed you are.

Take care,

Dirktraveller

Dubai dream-trip: At the top of the world!

A little history on how the world's tallest building is made.

Thanks to this grand structure, the city of Dubai is probably now known for its skyscrapers. Standing at 830 metres tall, the Burj Khalifa is currently the world’s tallest building. Construction of the building began in 2004 and it takes more than 22 million man hours to complete the structure, which was opened to public in 2010.

The building is home to the world’s first (and currently only) Armani hotel, office spaces, and high-end apartment residences. For a price of AED 125 per person, the public can access an observation deck at level 124, the point where Burj Khalifa officially surpassed Taipei 101 as the world’s tallest building.

There are also access to the 150th floor of the building sold for AED 300. Tickets on to Burj Khalifa are sold at the reception desks in Dubai Mall’s basement level, or nearby the grand Aquarium at ground level. Alternatively, you can check their official website and purchase the tickets online.

Views from the Observation Deck

It took less than a minute to reach level 124 using the dedicated elevator. The observation deck offers the view of the growing downtown Dubai area, its outer suburbs, and the Persian Gulf with few of Dubai’s reclaimed island including the Palm Jumeirah. There is also an outdoor terrace at the same level, where you can take better pictures of the city view from behind the glass barriers (with minimum reflection).

Some views of Downtown Dubai

The Dubai Fountain and Dubai mall seen from the Observation Deck

A free wireless Internet is also available at the observation deck for all of us to share the latest picture from Burj Khalifa, alongside a souvenir shop to purchase some memorabilia. The experience of overlooking the city from the world’s tallest building is certainly not to be missed!