EVENTS
BY PATRICK GRIFFIN
INDONESIAN VAPE EXPO 2018 - YOGYAKARTA - FEBRUARY 3 & 4
After 17 hours of travelling and with two international plane journeys completed, I had hoped that
the transition through Jakarta International Airport would be smooth and hassle free. It wasn’t.
We were travelling to the Indonesian Vape Expo 2018 and had
three hours to change terminals for the short hop to Yogyakarta
International Airport. However the airport signs were so confusing
that they tended to lead you in a big circle back to where you
started.
Our first big break was when a friendly airport employee pointed
to the air-train shuttle station. However getting there involved
pushing our way through a jam of two hundred people, all jostling
for space to remove baggage from trolleys and get into waiting
taxies or cars.
Once again signs, which could only have been designed to
confuse, led us on a frustrating tour from one end of Terminal
2 to the other. When we finally checked in and passed through
security, it was another 20-minute walk to our gate and we made
our flight with just minutes to spare.
The following day, we found ourselves at a pre-show briefing and
gala dinner hosted by expo organisers Invex International.
Here, they explained the main features of the show in some detail
and handed out passes. Luckily there were people on our table
who kindly translated the main points into English for us.
The briefing was a nice touch, as were the shuttle buses which
took us to and from the venue each day.
As for the show itself there are only three words to describe the
experience. Loud. Loud. Loud.
146 | VM16
If the annual convention of
pneumatic drill manufacturers was being
held next door, they would have complained about the noise.
By the end of the first day I could hardly speak because I
had shouted so much just to make myself heard. The most
frequent comment I received from exhibitors was that the music
was far too loud and I hope this is addressed for next year.
Don’t get me wrong, this was a good show and I really enjoyed it.
It was a little more laid-back than many shows, organisers Invex
International were super friendly (especially Amie and Inchan who
worked really hard to ensure we were well looked after) and the
exhibitors were very happy to chat to us.
Unlike many other shows which start busy and then empty out
towards the end, this was the opposite. Crowds only really started
to build up in the late afternoon and by 8pm it was really busy. The
opening hours both days were 9am until 10pm so these were two
very long but interesting days.
I was amazed at how many people wanted to take a selfie with
me and my colleague Elise and we were always happy to oblige.