I did Express Air from Jakarta to Sorong too, leaving at 5 AM after getting into Jakarta from the international flight, and I worked that day before getting on the flight at midnight in SFO. Very stupid. Since I'm back with the little people and, shockingly, can't sleep too well sitting up, I was up something like 30 hours before staying at transit hotel in Jakarta which was fine because it was just a short ride to the domestic terminal. I overnighted in Sorong before my boat left as airlines can be very unreliable in Sorong. Favorite story is how one, 1, guy put the entire batch of luggage from our 737 through a little door into the Sorong airport, while like 85 porters waited to carry our luggage inside the airport. All while it was baking. Sorong is supposed to have malarial mosquitos and after one got in my room due to no screens in the hallway, I was just a bit worried as I hadn't taken my Malarone to avoid the crazy dreams from killing my sleep further. Ah yes, and the "what the h#ll is that?" call to prayers at 5 AM.
World class trip on the Dewi Nusantara though which is so big you couldn't always tell you were on a boat.
Very interesting points in this thead like you would have shorter boat trips in Palau compared to Phillipines because typical trips out to the Rock Islands for diving in Palau are like an hour I believe. Note that the average dive from the liveaboard when they anchor in Palau is like 5 minutes, and you are anchored with incredible 360 degree classic blue water islands view. Also interesting to hear that the drift diving capital of Palau has less current than Phillipines.
And big shock is that Garuda is top five in the world?!
Note that Xmas and New YEars is a big time in that part of the world so lots of people. Streets were so filled with cars, motorcycles drove on the sidewalk like it was nothing. They avoided the guy taking a shower butt naked on the sidewalk. Cool, it's Indonesia!