Before continuing my story on my long silence, there was an unforgettable story about my colleague from Kyushu University, Ira Artilia, and her husband Umar Khayyam. They registered for hajj from Japan with us. When there was a bioceramics conference, Ira presented her works as well. It was the last day when Ira had to fly back earlier to Fukuoka but no flights from Yogyakarta at all. "No worry, I will call my driver to take you to the airport in Jakarta," I told her. She was so afraid that she would miss her flight.
The roof of Jeddah Airport.
Then I called my driver. My driver got surprised, "Ibu Ika, I thought I had to take her to Yogyakarta airport which is 10 minutes from the hotel. But . . . it was Jakarta International Airport which is at least 15 hours driving from here." "Please, just make sure that she will be reaching the airport in time. This is emergency situation. She has to fly for hajj. God bless you," I told him.
At the same time, my passport with hajj visa was sent by travel agent to her address. It never reached me when Ira came to Yogyakarta because the passport reached her address late. Thank God that I had already prepared official passport to enter Japan, so I did not need the passport (which has hajj visa) with me. When we met each other in Hongkong Airport, we cried. "It was not easy time for us, Ika-San, but you decided everything fast and properly. You are wonderful lady," she said. I just cried, did not say anything, and was happy that even in a difficult situation we finally reached Hongkong and were ready for another journey.
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