I probably should make some reference to my trip to Malaysia. Even though it was only a means to an ends (a new Indonesian visa), getting there is half the fun. In between running round the country like a madman trying to get my visa, I spent a couple of days in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. KL is similar to Singapore - just a bit dirtier. I actually had a bit of culture shock, arriving there from Indonesia, because it was so western. Penang is a chill led out colonial settlement, with a few of the old English buildings to remind [View Full Entry]

---

---

I was 3 weeks into my 30 day visa for Indonesia, and decided that I really wanted to do some volunteer work in Aceh. This meant a visa run. Rather than choosing the cheaper option of a ferry to Penang in Malaysia, I choose a flight to Kualu Lumpur. However about an hour after paying for my tickets, I found out that the Indonesian Embassy in KL didn't issue 60 day visas, and that I would have to go to Penang. So after flying to KL, catching and train into the city, a bus to Penang, a rickshaw to my hostel, [View Full Entry]

---

---

The highlight of Sumatra is definitely Bukit Lawang. Set right in the jungle, next to an Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, the place is amazing. Everything is quite minimalist, power is from generators etc. This is partially because huge floods came through the area in 2003, killing 300 people, and destroying a huge number of houses. Initially I was staying in a pretty grotty guesthouse, but then I took a walk up the river, and found the Jungle Inn, a luxury Tarzan styled guesthouse. I splashed out and spent twice as much on a room as I had been (only $10), but it [View Full Entry]

---

---

The Lonely Planet describes Berastagi as a "Grotty Town". I loved it. As soon as I arrived I could feel that this was a place which was actually lived in, wandering round the market, seeing the people, I was in heaven. The next day I went for a trek up Gunung Sibayak, and active volcano 2094 meters. One of the highlights was riding on the roof of the bus to the base of the mountain. At the top there were vents spewing sulphurous air into the air, I felt like Dante as I wandered around the vents, holding my breath to [View Full Entry]

---

---

Lake Toba is the old crater of a volcano, which a large island in it, where I stayed. Although I had heard that it was meant to be beautiful, and a perfect place to relax, I thought it was arse. The place is entirely set up for tourists, to the point of which it has no culture of it's own. To make matters worse there were virtually no other tourists around, so I had no company, and the locals were extra vigilant with there harassing: "Motorbike, Massage, Mushrooms...." I wondered what combining them all would have been like.... The scenery was [View Full Entry]

---

---

Traveling in Sumatra is far from a stress free experience. To start with requires getting a ticket. None of the ticket offices speak any English, so I have to find some English speaker who will get me a time, and no doubt add his margin for doing so. The Buses seldom arrive on time, and in one case I was waiting for 2 and a half hours before the bus finally arrived. All this time, there was no one to ask if the bus was actually coming. It requires quite a bit of faith that everything will work out, and knowledge [View Full Entry]

---

---

After arriving in Lake Maninjau, my guide left me. It was raining and I was damp and alone in a strange land. A motorcycle took me to my homestay (read hostel) - Lillie’s. I had to weave my way through the rice paddies for about 5 minutes from the road to reach the homestay. Arriving was a surreal experience. A cluster of chalets nestled amongst luscious trees, right against the lake, and there was no one in sight. The cafe was complete with coyboy style swing doors; it all felt like it was some sort of jungle ghost-town. Eventually the attendant [View Full Entry]

---

---

Ok, now things start getting exciting. So I find myself a guide in Bukittinggi, and the next day we head off into the jungle. Now I'm having fun. The jungle was interesting and I was introduced to many of my favourite spices in their native habitat: Cinnamon, Cardamom and Lemon Grass. But what was truly amazing is walking through the rice paddies, with the locals working the fields, by hand and by buffalo. I knew about this before, but being there is everything, seeing people living this life style, it was really something else. I felt like my heart has really [View Full Entry]

---

---

I was glad to get out of the sweaty industrial town of Dumai, although the overnight bus trip wasn't exactly bliss. I arrived in Bukittinggi early in the morning, and with the help of a local girl found my way to my hostel. Walking round Bukittingi was an interesting experience. I really came to appreciate that I was in a foreign land. Bukittinggi is rather unique; it is 930m above sea level meaning that it is rather cool. Mountains rise up around it and clouds float by, just out of reach. I managed to be befriended by a local who guided [View Full Entry]

---

---

I have just spent 2 days in Dumai staying at with Mr Muchsin, the teacher of a local English school and helping his students with their english. I have been feeling quite cut off, because I haven't seen another foriegner for about 3 days now. It has been an interesting experience getting to meet the local people. I have been asked a number of times what I think of the Bali bombing. My opinion is that it's probably safer now than it was before, because security has probably been clamped down. Also I think the main weapon of terrorism is fear. [View Full Entry]

---

---