The Lebaran exodus is already starting to get underway and by some estimates as many as 86% of Jakartans will be leaving the capital to go to their hometowns or other destinations over the next few days. Many of those people will be driving from Jakarta to Bandung, which can turn what would be a two-hour trip without traffic into a gruelling endurance test of sanity that can last up to 16 hours.
There are alternatives, of course, but most of the economic ones involve having made travel arrangements months ago. But if you have money to burn, another option is to simply take a shortcut through the sky and soar above the traffic by taking a helicopter down to Bandung.
And all it will cost you is Rp 16.5 million. One way.
The special mudik by helicopter service to Bandung is being offered by Whitesky Aviation, which says they want to help their customers spend less time on the road and more time with their family during the holidays. Isn’t that sweet of them?
If you do use the service, you’ll be able to make it from Jakarta to Bandung in just 45 minutes. Each helicopter flight can carry four passengers and flights leave from 7am to 4pm. The Rp 16.5 million price will be in effect from July 1 to July 12.
Sure, that is one awfully expensive helicopter ride (you could actually fly to Paris from Jakarta roundtrip for less). But then, what kind of price tag do you put on your sanity (which may be completely destroyed after enduring a 16-hour traffic crawl from Jakarta to Bandung while crammed inside a car with your family)?
