Indonesian Interludes 2002 Day Two 25.07.02

[This is posted on 14.02.2013 from an original hotmail email]

As our flight to Bali wasn't until noon, we had the whole morning to shop for provisions. To start the day off right, health nuts recommended breakfast. So it's off to breakfast we go. Tried the black colored, beef soupy thingie called Rawon and chicken soup called Soto. Both are very tasty and full of spices (not spicy hot lah). The locals actually eat both with rice. Everything goes with rice, it seems: KFC and Mac included.

What is really great was the fact that there were heaps and heaps of crackers (keropok) everywhere and they had these "fatty roti jala like" puffed up white colored fish based crackers that are delicious & doesn't stink like the Malaysian rock-hard grey fish crackers.

Next was a quick shopping trip to the local mall in North Jakarta. Bubble tea is immensely popular. Stalls everywhere. And the stunning thing was that security guards were everywhere in the mall, all armed with daggers! Yes, the type that one goes deep sea diving or hunting with. Ugly looking iron. Cool, huh? And we are not talking Security for jewellery shops, ok? Just normal security that hangs around. Apparently, this trend started after the rioting way back in 98/97.

Was almost tempted to try the local "tri-cycle" for the 40-min trip to the airport but opted for the normal taxis instead. BTW linguistic sidenote: motorcycles are called speda motor.

At the airport, as we had time on our hands, we stopped by the local KFC for a drink and in front of us a fight broke out amongst the drivers waiting for passengers! Airport Security had to intervene and asked them to sprawl against a vehicle. Even Caucasian tourists all jammed up to watch the spectacle. You might say we had a nice live free entertainment while we slurped our fizzy drinks.

It was unique at the KFC was that there is NO mashed/ whipped potatos. They serve steamed white rice wrapped in the burger wraps that are used for the Malaysian Zinger burgers instead. And if u order French Fries, it comes with mayo spread over in strips. The local chili sauce has a very gingery taste to it without our usual flavor of slight tomato-ish.

 

The plane we took was of the no frills type. We thought to try different domestic lines each way. More exciting, right? Anyway the airline is called Citilink. Nope - no relation to the courier by the same name. On the outside, the plane looks nice as it was painted with some colorful patterns. The fun only really began the moment we took off. There is indeed no frills, not even serviettes! When we were high in the air, the aircond got cooler and cooler and it started to rain on everyone (condensation). I kid u not. It was dripping water from the airvents. The stewardesses who are dressed in these funky shiny tight red jumpsuit like uniform came walking up and down the aisle with very sweet apologetic smile armed with a roll of toilet paper, start soaking up all the drips! See? That's call an experience. Heh heh heh! I loved it.

 

Expectations of Bali was that it would be hot, hotter than Jakarta. To our delight, the weather was simply perfect for each and everyday that we were day, no matter where we go actually. Blue skies with hardly a cloud, windy and not too warm, much less hot. Just perfect! We took a rip-off cab ride to our hotel passing by various shops and attractions. Had a neck cramp just trying to see everything. Our hotel was simply breathtaking. Sanur Beach. From the driveway in to the outside facade, reception, restaurants and rooms. And the best part was the poolside bar that had swings instead of stools. That was so cool to be sitting and swimming while sipping a local "arak" of rice wine and orange juice.

 

As our locale of Sanur was on the East, we decided to go tramping around the neighborhood for the rest of the night and only be at the beach for sunrise. This area is famed for artwork and shopping. With proper bargaining, one can get things rather cheap like a batik shirt for only RM15 to 20. Saw quite a bit of delightful Balinese paintings. As this is only day 1, we didn't buy much of anything to avoid having to cart it all with us. But we did stop to get our tattoos.

 

We also tried the Bakso (meatball soup kinda like Yong Tau Foo) at a local roadside stall (I know I know another roadside establishment). Dinner was in a traditional looking small restaurant. We shared an order of Rijstaeffel - it's basically a bit of everything - satay sticks, stir fry vege, keropok, fried rice, spring rolls, chicken, pork, beef. And to finish the night, we had another round of arak compliments of the house.
*** END OF DAY TWO ***

Indonesian Interludes 2002 Day 1 24.04.02

[This is posted on 14.02.2013 from an original hotmail email]

[Hi all - sorry for the long spell of silence but I was tied up with work and then there was a nice vacation followed by another spell of work. Anyway, here's me back at the old vacation write-up game. No pics yet. Sorry! To those I owe personal replies, will do so in the days ahead. Stay cool! ]
I came in early to the office at around 7:00AM and rushed like mad throughout the whole damn day to get everything done so that I could leave at 4:00PM. It's bloody hard to stay focused when all I can think of is the holidaaaaaAAAAAAy yay yay yay!!!Heh heh! A friend, Ad offered to drive me to the airport. However, we chit-chat so much in the car that we missed the turning and continued driving for at least another 20 minutes right through Nilai and Seremban exits and on the way to Malacca before it hit us that we were so way out of this. His wife, Aid had a good laugh on the handphone when she called to say goodbye.

Walked through the airport to the counter wondering if I should buy the vodka but decided against it until I checked in since I didn't feel like lugging it with me. Unfortunately, once I passed through immigration, the shops selling duty free liquor were closed. I kid u not. Aside from Chili's and a few cafes/kopi tiams, there were only two other retailers and one was Harrods. Agh! I walked from one end to the other getting panicky by the moment. But what to do?

Plane was incredibly packed, warm and so uncomfortable. Hey! It's a MAS, right? And as it was a MAS, u can guess the food for short journeys if you have ever flown with them over the past 15 yrs. Yup. Fried noodles. No changes. Consistent. Including the flat taste. Hah!

Reached Jakarta, disembarked, eyes scanning all around especially when I marched out of the immigration counter. I was so damn sleepy and the officer was asking what I was doing in Jakarta as it isn't exactly a touristry place. I grinned like an idiot, thanked him n wham out!

Anyway, as I exited, I had a minor panic moment. I couldn't see my friend anywhere. Deja vu of my Vietnam trip came back. I tried to call him on the handphone but couldn't get through since my handset is programmed with International codes. After sweating it for a good 10-15 minutes and being bugged almost incessantly by damn taxi touts, I went back into the Arrival Lounge through a mid-entrance and saw the back of someone who looked like my bro. I sneaked up on the side and bingo it was him! W.i.l.l.y.a.m - yes spelt with a "Y" and not an "I". Phew! Big sigh of relief there. He was with a couple of friends.

So what was Jakarta like? Huge and sprawling, not that many high rise but rather everything was very tightly packed and congested. Toll booths everywhere. Roads are pretty wide on the way to the airport though. Oh yeah name of the airport is Soekarno Hatta, names of their past political bosses.

I had my first sampling of local food that very night as we stopped by a roadside shop (I know I know everyone warns about the dangers of dining this way in Indonesia but ...) and ordered "Roti Bakar" or traditional toasted bread with stuffing. It was two thick slices of bread stuffed with cheese and egg for mine and cheese and chocolate for W.i.l.l.y.a.m. Huge stuff. Couldn't finish it but very yummy!

Culture shock for the night - residential neighborhoods were divided into zones. So each area has walls surrounding them and with a few entrances to the neighborhoods. Each entrance has gates with barricades and guards. The guards are sometimes armed.

And Jakarta is HOT! Swelteringly so. Roads are filled with potholes. Huge wide storm drains are chocked with stagnant water that resulted in a mob of mosquitos when sunset comes.

 

But who gives a damn, right? It's a different country and the greater the difference, the better. If I wanted the same old thing, I would have just stayed at home.

 

*** END OF DAY ONE ***