My body is here but doesn't believe it. Present but not accounted for. Sleep is a difficult commodity these nights. I have a theory that the body and psyche are not meant to travel faster than a horse can gallop or possibly a ship can sail. Lying awake at night seems to be proving that one. But, my psyche has arrived. Last night's dream was set in Palembang with Doug as one of the characters. How does it know to do that?
Breakfast
A buffet is at my disposal here in the Aston Hotel. All the names are in Indonesian so I choose by sight. Fruit is canteloupe, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, and others placed in the "I don't know but it tastes good" category. Guave juice and coffee round out the meal.
Vivian and driver pick me up for a tour of Palembang. First is Chinatown and the live animal and open market. (I'm on the hotel computer and can't post pictures, but will find a way at some point.) Live animals from owls, dove, rabbits, turtles, fish, birds of every description and lemur type creatures all in cages line the street, both sides. Vivian is a 5'11" Chinese woman who turns heads. I am associated with her in walking by her side. Since they can't talk to her, only gawk!!,they attempt to get to her through me-call me, attempt to shake my hand. The men are unashamedly thrilled with her. She is tired of this after about 45 minutes and we leave. While on the market walk we find ourselves along the shores of the large river which cuts through the city. Musi River. It is muddy with floating vegetation flowing quickly past. There is an effort by some boatmen to give us a ride along the river and possibly out to an island where the Musi enters the Sea. Java Sea, I believe. We decline. Next, is a museum along the Musi which was the residence of some British dignitary in 1815. Old wood floors and interior/exterior architecture are more interesting than the guided tour by a non-English speaking older gentleman. As we cross the bridge, it begins raining hard. We continue on. All the potholes and low spots fill with water. Motorcyclists continue at their own risk. Alongside us is one who gets his share of spray from our tires, especially through the low spots. Large streams of water drench him. Undeterred, he continues on. What resolve!
Lunch is across from the golf course and is thin noodles and sauce. Watermelon juice to drink.
Between 5 and 7 it again rains and continues till 9. Vivian wants pizza for dinner. So, Doug and she pick me up and we head for a Pizza Hut. Not a Stateside menu. I can't read it so Doug orders some chicken wings, a pizza, and an hors d'oeuvre which is shrimp bruschetta. Again, watermelon juice as drink.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Palembang, Sumatra
As the plane landed it felt again, familiar. More so than in Jakarta-not so much modernity. We pull out our carryons from the storage bins, ready to deplane, when I hear, behind me, a man is humming, "What a wonderful world."
Here I am Mr. Larry, with a rolled R. The only Caucasian on the plane, maybe that's what felt familiar.
Pelambang at a glance:
-lane lines are only a suggestion.
-it reminds me of Kikwit, Congo, but less "color" and much more pavement. Much more modern.
-motorcycles buzz in and out while a boy with sorrowful eyes begs when cars stop at a sign. Not all cars, obviously I am a foreigner.
I like Palembang. I'm willing to admit, however, it may be the jet lag talking. 27 hours in flight or airports puts one in a particular mood.
Doug and Vivian Sunda are my hosts. First things first, a SIM card for my Stateside phone so I can keep in touch with them. It also allows me to call Iain in Jayapura and bring him along with my plans. There will need to be some corrections made on my itinerary since I was allowed only a 30 day visa-I needed a 60 day visa. Doug will help me with that detail. He is an engineer who works for a power plant locally. Dinner was a fried egg over fried rice, a few veggies, and a beer, or two. Then, off to change some money into rupiah-$1=9,100 rupiah.
Here I am Mr. Larry, with a rolled R. The only Caucasian on the plane, maybe that's what felt familiar.
Pelambang at a glance:
-lane lines are only a suggestion.
-it reminds me of Kikwit, Congo, but less "color" and much more pavement. Much more modern.
-motorcycles buzz in and out while a boy with sorrowful eyes begs when cars stop at a sign. Not all cars, obviously I am a foreigner.
I like Palembang. I'm willing to admit, however, it may be the jet lag talking. 27 hours in flight or airports puts one in a particular mood.
Doug and Vivian Sunda are my hosts. First things first, a SIM card for my Stateside phone so I can keep in touch with them. It also allows me to call Iain in Jayapura and bring him along with my plans. There will need to be some corrections made on my itinerary since I was allowed only a 30 day visa-I needed a 60 day visa. Doug will help me with that detail. He is an engineer who works for a power plant locally. Dinner was a fried egg over fried rice, a few veggies, and a beer, or two. Then, off to change some money into rupiah-$1=9,100 rupiah.
Jakarta
Ah, the feel of the tropics. HOT!! Yet, the body never forgets a feeling. This is familiar. The airport, again airports, is a grouping of huts surounding a rectangular building. The huts are the flight gates. The rectangular building is administrative-visa, customs, checkin, baggage claim. It is not possible that the screening system works. No one seems to be paying much atention-walk through, no need to remove shoes, belts, coins out of the pocket, all these things we Americans take for granted with airport screening. In San Francisco the screeners removed a bottle of sun block I had in my carry on. NITPICKERS!!
At gate F4, waiting for my flight, glass the full extent of the enclosure, there is a flat screen TV blaring some NBA game from the States-out of place. Out of place against the surrounding beauty.
At gate F4, waiting for my flight, glass the full extent of the enclosure, there is a flat screen TV blaring some NBA game from the States-out of place. Out of place against the surrounding beauty.
Hong Kong airport
January 30, 2008 - Flight CX777-Cathay Pacific-high above the So. China Sea. One hour from Jakarta, 3 1/2 hours from Hong Kong. Friends Stateside will be sitting to dinner.
Hong Kong wasn't much for me. I didn't even know I was in China, airports are like that. It could have been any US airport, except the language, signs, money, and no water to be purchased. There finally was one spot, hidden around a corner, where I found a bottle of Vittel. Free internet access to all comers. I sent off a letter to some key people and spent the rest of the time at the gate. I am surprised at all the Europeans flying through, some staying.
Hong Kong wasn't much for me. I didn't even know I was in China, airports are like that. It could have been any US airport, except the language, signs, money, and no water to be purchased. There finally was one spot, hidden around a corner, where I found a bottle of Vittel. Free internet access to all comers. I sent off a letter to some key people and spent the rest of the time at the gate. I am surprised at all the Europeans flying through, some staying.
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