The guesthouse by the lake and Cafe 44 - Emails from Sumatra, August 2011

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Dirk Jan

Now, I'm packing for the last festival of the year, I'll be leaving on wednesday morning.

Mel

Is your inexpensive tent holding up OK?

Dirk Jan

At Wacken it had to endure very heavy rain and it kept watertight (just about, only a few drops here and there) so that was 14 Euros well spent :) At Wacken my frail old chair finally died, but now I know where to go: I got another one at the place where I got the tent. 4.99 and I was sorted :)

Mel
Those chairs are generally good priced in the ALDI too. we can look out for one. :)We left Bukkitinggi the day before Indonesian Independence day. I told the owner of the guesthouse, ''if you meet any Dutch people tomorrow, be sure to wish them a Happy Independence Day''. He gave the non commital nod he gives, when he doesn't understand something I say, or else he did not want to stirr any poo heaps by joking about this with their former tyrants.

Mel
So, are you back from the festival yet? We got on a mini bus with a bunch of smiling head scarfed girls, and are now at asleepy village, beside a crater lake in the mountains, losing track of time. There are not many other foreigners here or in Sumatra in general. If you brave earth quake, volcano... zones you don't have to share them with many other tourists. Our guesthouse and current living room are right beside the silvery lake, with lovely orangey sunsets every night. The lady who runs the cafe is the mother of the guy who runs the guesthouse. It is a good thing she is such a fantastic cook, because I think the guesthouse guy would be disgruntled if we ate in anyplace except his mamas cafe. I love most of the touts here. They do try to sell things and services, but almost all of them are selling something well worth having at a price most backpackers are willing to pay, and they are pleasant, friendly and informative. Because of being good and loyal customers to his family, the guesthouse guy gives us all kinds of treats, such as cigarettes, coffee, snacks... We are even managing to bring more customers to the guesthouse and cafe, with our recommending them to everybody we meet. The guesthouse was empty when we arrived, and the cafe only had one customer besides us, on our first day. Today is market day, so there should be some nice things waiting for us in the cafe, when we go there in a few minutes. And, as a bonus, there is nobody in a headscarf, or any pale and starved looking people working there. I think, the family who own the cafe and guesthouse might be Christians.

Dirk Jan So, I'll be away until Sunday. Have the mobile with me. After I'm back, it's only a few more sleepings until I fly over to Bangkok, it's getting really close :)

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