We are three weeks away into production. Meaning: in 3 weeks, the gas from beneath the ocean will be pumped into our pipes and it will either be processed or flared. Yay!

I flew to Gresik again last Wednesday to meet my colleagues and I was so happy to see the On Shore Production Facilities look more and more like the real Gas Plant. There are more and more Operations people walking around in their safety gear, checking this and that. I still could see goats (!!) wondering around though, but soon there will be fences around the plant and it will be restricted even for human. We should wear full safety gear (not only hard hat, boots and safety glasses) and get the Plant Manager approval before we could enter that area. Hence, before that happened, I made time to walk around the plant to admire this massive engineering. It remained me of an episode of Mega Structures but of course, this is nothing compared to any of it. But yet, it is real and within my reach.

I also met some of the Project Engineers as well and had a good laugh. As Operations people has started taking over the plant, most of them had been moved to another temporary office to work on the second phase of the project, which is the Oil Production Facilities. I imagine what it feels like to give up a baby you have grown so fondly to another department to run it. Ah, now I am being romantic! I do have this soft spot for engineers for I secretly admired them for being able to work under such an extreme pressure and temperatures (to me, at least!) and still able to come up with something as beautiful as this plant. I have always have soft spot for them and that’s why I always go easier on them. Discrimination. Discrimination. Discrimination. Oh well, what can I say? I love engineering to the bones.

I was down to Gresik again last week with a colleague of mine and this time we stayed at non-star hotel for the fun of it as oppose to staying in five stars hotel we used to stay. Some people in the office thought that it was a crazy and unnecessary decision, but I guess we just want to expand our comfort zone. Prove our selves that we can live in any given situation. However, I secretly called the hotel and when I found out that they do not provide hair dryer I packed my own. I can live in any given situation with good hair.

When we left Jakarta, the timing could not be any better. It was during the Isobel storm that caused our rig crew evacuated the weekend before, one commercial flight missing and 4 boats capsizing. I could see a lot of people citing prayer during the flight. The flight it self was quite bumpy but in general it was not too bad.

We arrived in Saptanawa Hotel couple of hours before midnight. The condition was as expected. Lots of mosquitoes, no hot water, the towel was rags, the bed was dusty and the toilet smelled funny. I felt like in a Fear Factor episodes. But the Hotel staff was very nice. They helped me put the mosquito repellent, boiled some water for me to clean my self, change the towel and bedsheet in the speed of light but there was nothing they can do about the toilet other than putting more mothballs. It was liveable. Later on I realised that we were the only women staying in that hotel! The rest are rough necks and operators from other oil service companies operating in that area. During breakfast, we were surrounded by men in their colorful safety gear. They were looking at us in wonder. Or maybe they were looking at my pink outfits in wonder.

The trip it self was a success. We had whole day meeting with our colleague in Gresik and met a lot of new employees that I knew only the name. It was always nice to put name with a face and it was really heartening to see how the project goes. What used to be a half done building now look more and more like a real On Shore Production Facilities. The administration building is ready and couple months from now, we will be producing gas and making real money!

The jewel of the trip was actually when we managed to visit Mermaids. It’s the name of our rig. She was towed back last weekend due to Isobel Storm that hit the Java Sea. And whilst she anchored in the Surabaya shorebase, we managed to get approval to board her. It was really exciting. We had lavish lunch there and one of our colleague took us anywhere. Up and down. Back and forth.

I went back in the afternoon all by my self. The flight was still under the threat of Isobel Storm. But Thank God everything was a okay. The sky was clear and there were fluffy white cloudes here and there. There was no sign of the scary gray cloud until I landed safely. I will try to post some pictures later.

Had I not miss my family so much I would have had enjoyed my time in London more. The fact that I missed Mika’s 5th birthday apparently bothered me more than I care to admit. And for the first time during so many trips, I miss home more than ever.

Don’t get me wrong, I do miss home whenever I am travel. But the excitement of seeing and experience new things usually worth it. But this time it’s different. I felt sad. I felt that I was missed out. I knew that my kind hubby said that it’s just a celebration. It’s only clapping hand and blowing candle. No big deal. We love our children wherever we are. But to me, 5th (as well as 1st) birthday is a big deal. Anyway, I don’t want to dwell on that…

Apart from this continuous melancholy feeling, the trip was good. The meeting was brain provoking and it was always nice to meet your colleagues from overseas (and share stories, and gossiping, and shopping, and eating…)

In short, I arrived on Wednesday morning and we checked in directly into the hotel. Upon taking shower, we went directly to the new office and had 2.5 days working session and meeting. The new office was nice and I did meet some old colleagues when they worked in the region. Later on Thursday, we went up to the Eye of London and had nice dinner at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

I was quite surprise that I felt so much in tune with London this time (even that I did not have a map with me this time - thanks to Chandra who dashed out to Batam without passing it to me). Perhaps because it was summer and that it was my second trip. The weather was nice. Not too hot. Not too cold. It’s airy and it’s sunny. No jumper. No gloves. It was nice. I jumped in and out tube with my colleagues Siti and Hani. Walked through Oxford Street looking for rice and halal food. And had one helluva time shopping around. It was July 7, a year after a suicide bombing in Aldgate tube station, so we also spent 2 minutes quiet time in the afternoon to commemorate the victims. I had goosebumps thinking on how fragile life is nomatter who you are or where you are. It always was and it always will be.

I also meet up with the good old (but still young) Indonesian friends in London again. I met up with Djatu and Dedy at Piccadily Circus and after some really serious shopping where we nearly emptied the Lily White, we went to see Benny, Grace, little William, Lucy and Ronald at a restaurant in China Town. The food was super duper delicious and the atmosphere was good. I laughed a lot and eat a lot more. Had I not been too proud I would have licked the plate. And then Djatu and Dedy took me back to the hotel to collect the goodies. We chatted until 1:30 am before they left. I slept right away but nevertheless, it was a troubled sleep. I woke up 4 hours later and spent almost good 45 minutes on the phone with hubby. I was happy to find that everything was all right. The kids were healthy and our new baby sitter seemed able to coup with Pascal. Thank God.

Few hours later, I checked out from the hotel and went to Lucy and Ronald’s place to dump my luggage. And afterwards, Ronald took me for a walk to Marble Arch whilst Lucy continue her “morning rest” ;).

It was one of the nicest day I ever had in London. The sun was warm, the temperature was cool, the wind breeze gently, the street was quiet and the walk was pleasant. I walked through the Oxford Street again all by my self. Enjoying the athmosphere and once again marvel at the different languages spoken around me. I did some final shopping before my feet gave in. I rested my tired butt on the bench watching the hustle and bustle of people walking around in their “more open” outfit. More open then when it was in Spring. It was a real eye openner how considerable amount of skin was flaunting (and dangling) in front of you.

In the afternoon I met up with Lucy and Ronald again at Busaba. It’s a Thai Restaurant in Bird Street. Again, it was combination of nice food and right athmosphere. I love it. It was my 3rd time to Busaba and I love it even more. Djatu and her friends joined us an hour later. But by that time we had finished our lunch and my eyes felt so heavy so we returned to Lucy’s place. We stopped by to had a bite of ice cream (which was delicious!) before continuing our walk.

I had a catnap at Lucy’s not long after Djatu arrived. Benny and Grace arrived when I was asleep. They went to see theatre to celebrate Benny’s birthday and the computer at the theatre was broken. So the show was cancelled. We were speculating that Benny is jinxed but I am not at the liberty to comment as I never witness any of those unfortunate events.

After that short sleep I felt a bit more fresh. So I had cold shower, took some pictures again and dashed to the airport. The company sent me a very flashy mercedez bens with a chatty driver. So it was very interesting to hear him sharing stories about some company VIP “secret life”. It was so bizarre I found it difficult to be true. Anyway…here I am sipping latte in Kris Lounge, 16 hours to go to my warm and comfy bed…I can’t wait.