So here we are in Indonesia, in Jakarta to be precise - the blog title is the address of our hotel, which we have actually just left. We arrived safely and took an excellent cab ride in which Char, Gabi and I established that we are an ethnically and aesthetically-correct Charlie's Angels - Gabi is Alex, Charlotte is Natalie and I am Dylan. We have continued these alternate identities throughout our time in Jakarta and the locals seem to buy it, treating us like actual celebrities. The cab driver told me I looked like Barbie, and a small piece of my soul died, though he insisted it was a compliment. To console myself, I pretended to be Danish. Taking on alternative personalities has been one of the most amusing things about travelling. Generally I pretend to be Welsh, but I have been mixing it up recently and expanding into the rest of Europe. It doesn't seem to matter that the only accent I can do is Southern Irish.
We have had a pretty chilled out time in Jakarta - there's not that much to do, to be honest, but we've mainly just been lazy. We've sat in the same cafe a lot watching Indonesian music videos (people commit suicide a lot in them due to being dumped - a bit of a disproportionate reaction, but each to their own I suppose), and spent time marvelling at the windowless charm void that is our hotel room, and last night we walked an hour and a half trying to find a substandard, overpriced Middle Eastern restaurant. But that is about it. We did meet a wonderful man in the tourist office, called Frank/Taufik (he likes both names), who insisted that he could be reincarnated as a stone, and also that he was both Dean of the local university and an MI6 spy. At least, he was wonderful until he went on an insane racist tirade. I don't know what it is about us encountering racist officials (remember Ali at the Taj Mahal?!), but it was both incredibly uncomfortable and absolutely hilarious (mainly because it was so uncomfortable) - we didn't know what to say, so we just said nothing at all, which we figured was safer. He took us out with his family for long island ice teas at a local pub where there was a live band playing all the classics - some songs were better than others, it has to be said. "The Power of Love" was never one of my favourites, but if I ever hear it again, I will begin moving quickly in the other direction.
Today we fly to Borneo, where we will be getting a river boat to some villages, and also going to the National Park to see orangutans. It is pretty remote and I doubt I will get any internet signal, so don't be surprised if you don't hear from me for a week or so. I have (probably) not been mauled by a rogue orangutan.
I imagine my next update will be from Bali, where we fly on the 7th.
Also, I just thought I should mention that it's exactly a month today until I am home, meaning we are over 3/4 of the way through our trip now. So, for those who are missing me (tumbleweed/awkward silence), it's not long until I'm back, and I'm very excited.
Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
No comments:
Post a Comment