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Published: November 11th 2016
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On a whim and an invite I hopped on the domestic flight from Sumatra to Jakarta the capitol, the economic seat of power, and city of nine million people on the Indonesian island of Java. Here I was to meet Amis – 25% of the C.C. (Cartagena Crew), a quarter of the F.F. (Fearsome Foursome), and an integral part of the Tower of Power who I had the privilege of crossing paths with way back in March at the start of my journey in Colombia. Upon my arrival as I dined in the wee hours of the morning alone after my long journey amidst the cockroaches and the rats on the streets of this mega city I was excited to again meet my friend the next evening and catch up on where and what we have been up to.
My first and only full day in Jakarta was nothing memorable and consisted of me trying to replace my lost iPod. I went to many of the blessed air conditioned malls and traversed the city on the back of a mototaxi which was both terrifying and exciting at the same time. Sorry to say my efforts were in vain as all
of the Apple distributors here in Indonesia wanted about $350USD for a product which back home should cost me $250USD. For all the talk of the USA being expensive, when it comes to consumer products being cheap and convenient it surely reigns supreme. As evening came I hopped yet again on a mototaxi and met up with Amis.
Amis has been working here in Jakarta for the past month with
KontraS which is a NGO dedicated to protecting human rights in the archipelago and acting as a sort of watchdog holding those in power accountable for abuse of said rights in the nation now and in the past. When I met her at the office I was introduced to a lot of great people whose progressive ideals were not unlike my own and I was inspired to see such a movement in an otherwise conservative and somewhat oppressive nation. As it was Amis’s last night in town her colleagues had planned a night out at one of the karaoke clubs downtown in Jakarta. Karaoke back home consists of embarrassing yourself at a bar in front of total strangers. Here in Jakarta the process is streamlined into a private theatre
and you get to embarrass yourself in the privacy amongst your friends. A true Asian experience for sure and even I belted out a few notes. After I was asked to leave by management due to my singing some of the guys working at
KontraS offered to take me for some late night eats and also to take me to the school where President (good on you America) Barack Obama attended primary school. It was pretty neat to see the site even if this is just a tiny chapter in the President's life. After a fun night and an early morning Amis and I met up at the Gambir train station for the three hour journey east to the city of Bandung where we were to stay at her sister Natalie’s house.
On the train ride Amis and I got to catch up on what we've been up to and it struck me on how far I've come since those early days of leaving home. I've been to some incredible places and met some amazing people. Talking about Colombia also flooded me with memories of how much I really love that country and how someday I will return to
primary
Barack Obama's primary school. it. But whereas I have been jet setting from country to country experiencing culture, meeting the local populace, hanging out on islands and beaches, etc., etc. (basically having a carefree good time) Amis has been jet setting from Colombia back home to Amsterdam and now in Indonesia working for progressive NGOs trying to make a difference in this troubled world. The world could use more people like her. After me feeling a little inadequate for not really having done much in the past nine months we had arrived in Bandung and hopped onto the local angot minibus to the neighborhood where we were to stay.
Amis is half Dutch and half Indonesian but she has two sisters who are full Indonesian. Her family is complex and interesting to say the least. Upon arrival I was immediately made to feel at home by Natalie and her family. We had legit Indonesian food consisting of fish and chili dishes, chicken heads, rice, and vegetable soup - all of which was exceptionally tasty. I love these moments when I’m off the tourist trail and in the real deal of living in a different country. As I walked around the neighborhood people just
could not believe a white guy or “bule” was walking amongst the local people. Smiles and laughter were had all around and everyone was super friendly. It was fun and a little strange to be treated as such a novelty. I thought I stuck out when I travel to The South back in The States but this was clearly a whole new level.
Family life here is just that. Family. Everyone eats, sleeps, and shares together. Back home it is so isolating with everyone having their own rooms, TVs, computers, and wifi to further ensure segregation. It was refreshing to be in a house and a community where everyone was truly together and laughter and conversation dominated over the distractions of modern day life. Somehow, someway, and someday I hope to make my household the same.
This is Fahmi and Benny (with guitar). Fahmi and I are one and the same. He listens to all of the same music and bands I listen to. It was cool to be with a fellow punk rocker on the other side of the world and fascinating to hear of his views on the current political climate of Indonesia. Benny was the
nicest guy you would ever meet. He was always laughing and smiling and he also makes a mean cup of tea.
After a great few days with Amis and her family it was time for both me and her to move on. Amis is back to Holland to begin work with another NGO project and me I'm back to the train station to continue east on Java to visit some temples and extend my soon to be expired visa so I can hang out in Bali. The jet setting continues, but I now question my path and direction.
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