The next day, we went and learned how to make Batik...a type of traditional Indonesian fabric. Lets just say that I got the technical part, but the steady hand that's required...lets just say nobody would want mine...it's a mess. Maybe I could improve if I worked at it time, and time again...but that would require lots of sitting and patience...not my strongest gifts.
Once we finished our Batik lesson we took a bus to Semarang. That brings me to transportation...it's slightly insane, but I think I have it figured out...there are unspoken rules that everyone seems to follow...here's the thing, it's to complicated to explain...it's all based of observations I've made and the scary part is that it makes sense to me...wonder what would happen if I drive in Lancaster that way? :-)
Semarang:
Day 1
It was a relaxing day...I think I finally rolled out of bed around 10 that morning. It felt so good to sleep in...we did the exciting stuff, like laundry. After we were able to take the car we went to the mall...which turned into a trying on clothes/shopping trip for me, and entertainment for Delphine...I must admit, that was the "girlie-st" she has ever seen me. My college days consisted of jeans and t-shirts, that was it. So the fact that I was trying dresses was really fun for her...I would have to say I had fun too.
While we were at the mall, we stopped at a Luwak coffee place...that was probably the best cup of coffee I had...I want to go back for more before I head home...not something that I'll be getting there.
Day 2
Consisted of an early morning again...up at 5am. Delphine's parents took us up into the mountains. It was amazing...and cold so I was happy that I wore my jeans and sweatshirt. The primary crop is potatoes, but they also grow cabbage and tea.
The view was totally worth the 4-5 hour car ride to get there...during which I experienced a level of car/motion sickness that I haven't had in a long time...I had Dramamine with me and I had to take a couple, and roll down the window so I could feel some air. After finally getting home, I felt gross after having the window down because several trucks we pouring out black smoke from the exhaust pipe.
Day 3
Now this turned out to be a very interesting day...again we got up early to go to take a bus to go see more beaches! No the beach we were headed to was a white sand beach and it turned out to be gorgeous...we had gotten the bus driver to take us there (we were the only passengers) because it is at least 6km from the city/bus stop.
The plan was, then to take a boat out to visit the island and then have them take us to a different beach...closer to the city were we could find a taxi or some form of transportation to the bus...granted we found a bus headed back to Semarang. All was fine, we got dropped of at the one beach, spent time there and then went to find a boat headed to the island.
Since I can't speak Indonesian...Delphine does all the negotiations and I follow along. Apparently they were trying to over charge us, so we left to figure out some other options. Searching for options (i.e. a taxi) we learned that they don't have taxi's where we are so were kinda stuck on the beach unless we take the boat, walk, or figure something else out.
It turned out that we started talking to a group of girls, and when we asked about going to the island they said basically said "don't go!" which I think is a good thing. A couple of the guys were really trying to push us into going with them...and I didn't like they way they were looking at me...it made me uncomfortable to say the least. If we had gone, I think it would have to turned into the 2 of us on an island with at least 2-4 guys...lets just say we didn't go, and found some other way to leave.
We started walking down the beach and came to a resort...went in and started asking some questions. It was finally to the point that we were just about getting ready to walk the 6km, because we had found a bus going to Semarang...we just needed to get there. As we were walking out of the resort, we had to pass the security guard so we stopped to ask him some questions.
Basically, to make a long story short...he called one of his friends who said he would give us a ride on his bike, but it would have to be one at a time...then he called one of his friends who also had a bike so that they could both make extra money, and we could go at the same time.
I got to ride on the motorcycle, while Delphine rode the slightly smaller more normal one...then they were racing each other to the bus stop. I would be lying if I said I didn't have fun...I loved it and was wishing the ride was longer. It was very interesting seeing the expressions of the local people when we went by...lets just say I was glad we went to the beach...but the bike ride was my favorite part of the day and it was way to short!!!!
I can now check of the 'I want to ride on the back of strange guy's bike in another country' goal...it was seriously something I have wanted to do...maybe, I wonder if it will happen a second time...maybe another trip!!!! :-)
Once we finished our Batik lesson we took a bus to Semarang. That brings me to transportation...it's slightly insane, but I think I have it figured out...there are unspoken rules that everyone seems to follow...here's the thing, it's to complicated to explain...it's all based of observations I've made and the scary part is that it makes sense to me...wonder what would happen if I drive in Lancaster that way? :-)
Semarang:
Day 1
It was a relaxing day...I think I finally rolled out of bed around 10 that morning. It felt so good to sleep in...we did the exciting stuff, like laundry. After we were able to take the car we went to the mall...which turned into a trying on clothes/shopping trip for me, and entertainment for Delphine...I must admit, that was the "girlie-st" she has ever seen me. My college days consisted of jeans and t-shirts, that was it. So the fact that I was trying dresses was really fun for her...I would have to say I had fun too.
While we were at the mall, we stopped at a Luwak coffee place...that was probably the best cup of coffee I had...I want to go back for more before I head home...not something that I'll be getting there.
Day 2
Consisted of an early morning again...up at 5am. Delphine's parents took us up into the mountains. It was amazing...and cold so I was happy that I wore my jeans and sweatshirt. The primary crop is potatoes, but they also grow cabbage and tea.
The view was totally worth the 4-5 hour car ride to get there...during which I experienced a level of car/motion sickness that I haven't had in a long time...I had Dramamine with me and I had to take a couple, and roll down the window so I could feel some air. After finally getting home, I felt gross after having the window down because several trucks we pouring out black smoke from the exhaust pipe.
Day 3
Now this turned out to be a very interesting day...again we got up early to go to take a bus to go see more beaches! No the beach we were headed to was a white sand beach and it turned out to be gorgeous...we had gotten the bus driver to take us there (we were the only passengers) because it is at least 6km from the city/bus stop.
The plan was, then to take a boat out to visit the island and then have them take us to a different beach...closer to the city were we could find a taxi or some form of transportation to the bus...granted we found a bus headed back to Semarang. All was fine, we got dropped of at the one beach, spent time there and then went to find a boat headed to the island.
Since I can't speak Indonesian...Delphine does all the negotiations and I follow along. Apparently they were trying to over charge us, so we left to figure out some other options. Searching for options (i.e. a taxi) we learned that they don't have taxi's where we are so were kinda stuck on the beach unless we take the boat, walk, or figure something else out.
It turned out that we started talking to a group of girls, and when we asked about going to the island they said basically said "don't go!" which I think is a good thing. A couple of the guys were really trying to push us into going with them...and I didn't like they way they were looking at me...it made me uncomfortable to say the least. If we had gone, I think it would have to turned into the 2 of us on an island with at least 2-4 guys...lets just say we didn't go, and found some other way to leave.
We started walking down the beach and came to a resort...went in and started asking some questions. It was finally to the point that we were just about getting ready to walk the 6km, because we had found a bus going to Semarang...we just needed to get there. As we were walking out of the resort, we had to pass the security guard so we stopped to ask him some questions.
Basically, to make a long story short...he called one of his friends who said he would give us a ride on his bike, but it would have to be one at a time...then he called one of his friends who also had a bike so that they could both make extra money, and we could go at the same time.
I got to ride on the motorcycle, while Delphine rode the slightly smaller more normal one...then they were racing each other to the bus stop. I would be lying if I said I didn't have fun...I loved it and was wishing the ride was longer. It was very interesting seeing the expressions of the local people when we went by...lets just say I was glad we went to the beach...but the bike ride was my favorite part of the day and it was way to short!!!!
I can now check of the 'I want to ride on the back of strange guy's bike in another country' goal...it was seriously something I have wanted to do...maybe, I wonder if it will happen a second time...maybe another trip!!!! :-)
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