Jalan-jalan Pontianak & Joint Exercise (MALINDO)

My Official Tag

I was chosen to attend the joint airforce training between Malaysia and Indonesia. It was like a chance of a life time. Flew down to kuching on my little birdie Nuri. Stayed overnight and headed to Pontianak airport (Bandar Udara Supardio) the next day.

Bintulu Airport - stop for refueling

Pontianak Air Force Base

 Although the base is much more smaller and far backward than Malaysia, but their Air Force is quite advance in terms of quantity and not quality. Hehehehe.

                                 
                                                           LANUD SUPADIO, PONTIANAK


Like any other exercise it all starts off with the opening ceremony. This years exercise was jointly officiated by the representatives from both countries.

We were given 3million rupiah as our pocket money. I was like an instant millionaire there although converting the money to malaysian currency only gives me RM 600... 

We then checked in to Hotel Mercure, Pontianak... My home for the next 10 days... The hotel is quite new.. The Malaysian Embassy is situated in the hotel... It also has a swimming pool and a gym... That is where i work out everyday after our daily ops..

Through out the 10 days, I visited many places in Pontianak... One of the famous tourist spot is the Tugu Khatulistiwa.. It is the point where the equator line runs through the country... Pontianak basically is a very hot town... Temperature can go as high as 38 degree Celsius during hot sunny day... 

I managed to grab a few souvenirs from the shop situated within the compound of the Tugu... The stuffs are quite expensive since they cater more for foreign tourist... The cost of living in Pontianak is quite high... Majority of the people here are quite well to do... The main economy booster is timber... 

The town of Pontianak is very busy with lots of buildings and vehicles... Lots of shops around to grab local souvenirs... But I didint purchase those fireworks...

 One should not leave Pontianak without tasting the Aloe Vera juice... It is quite famous here... Its a thirst quencher plus cools down the body since the weather here is quite hot...

                                                                   
                                                               Aloe Vera Juice


I even managed to catch a movie during my stay there... Final Destination 5... Price of ticket only RM 9... so cheap!!!....

During the exercise, I did get a chance to fly around Pontianak during the area familiarization flight... The town is so congested with houses.. Something like the squatter homes in Malaysia... heheheh...

Air & Ground Crew of RMAF n TNI-AU

Friendly matches (soccer & volleyball) were held to foster friendship and comradeship among the personnel of both countries...

In malaysia we have either pisang goreng or karipap for tea... Over in Pontianak, they served us ubi, jagung, kacang and pisang for tea... The unique things is that all these items are only boiled.... It taste good too...

Pontianak is a place that should be visited.... I hope that I get another chance to visit Pontianak to meet all the cute ceweks (pretty gals in Indon language)....