Blogs from Indonesia, Asia - page 605

When we arrived in Indonesia at the Jakarta airport, I had to show proof of a plane ticket out of Indonesia in order to be granted a visa. I didn't have a plane ticket yet - this was a problem! Luckily the customs official was corrupt and took at 5,000 Rupiah bribe (50 cents! haha!). He was risking his job, but the extra money must really pay off! Walking away from the customs official, we were greeted with a large sign threatening death to drug smugglers. Most of you have probably heard that numerous young people are on death row in Indonesia for possessing drugs. Jakarta was a huge dirty city with about 2 million Tuk Tuk drivers and 5-6 tourists. The main backpacker street is supposed to be full of life, but since the Bali ... read more

I'm in a work meeting right, but the presentation is entirely in Indonesian, so I don't feel too bad about doing other, ahem, work. I have been trying to learn the language and I actually feel like I'm making quite a lot of progress in the 7 weeks I've been here. It's not a difficult language - there are no verb tenses or conjugations, so pronouns (he, she) and time-sensitive words (yesterday, tomorrow) are crucial. After all those years in NY, it's fun to be the foreigner for once. I get to mispronounce things in a cute way, smile and elicit sympathetic laughs from the native speakers. Our meeting is being held in the kitchen because it is actually our only indoor meeting room. Most meetings are held outside but it is threatening to rain today. ... read more

After arriving in Indonesia I stayed a night in Padang to adept a bit to all the new things. Here I first had what is known in all Indonesia as 'Padang Food', in many places the only food. And I was not to happy with it. Being hot to very spicy and ready made in the morning it is than left for presentation (roting...) in the restaurant window. I did never get ill seriously from it, but certainly my stomach didn't enjoy it too much. A very distinctive and beautiful arcitectural highlight is the Minangkabau roof. Many commercial and official buildings in Padang and the surounding region feature its pointing corners. The Minangkabau are an ethnic group that live in west Sumatra.... read more

My birthday (3rd of December for those who missed it!!!) was so legendary, that it warrants 2 blog entries. During the day I received the welcome phone calls from friends and family. It was really special to hear from home. Then I went to the beach with 4 local staff from work, 2 tunas ($11) and a BBQ. It was great to spend a day on the beach; I really love to swim in the sea. It was also cool to hang out with some Indonesian people, to remind me of where I was actually spending my birthday. However going to the beach was also a reason of why I was here. The area is still devastated by the tsunami. Hills stripped bare up to the water mark of the wave, People living in tents. Look ... read more

An aspirin for the medicine man Another hot and sticky Sumatran day is culminating in a tropical sunset as we are waiting to embark the old cutter in front of us which is bound for the Mentawai islands a nights ride into the Indian Ocean. A couple of men are hecticly loading boxes into the hull of the vessel while others are waiting, smoking, playing cards. The handful of tourists which dot the scene look a bit lost as they are about to leave the world they know. Some down a couple of last-minute anti-malaria pills in an attempt to boost their confidence ahead of the unknown: The jungle of Pulau Siberut. Upon arrival Irwan our guide loads us on two motorbikes and a cup of tea later into a boat which brings us straight into ... read more