Indonesia - Yogyakarta

Lalu, kami sudah pergi ke Jakarta - Then we went to Jakarta

We flew out of Yogyakarta and spent our last two days in Jakarta. When the plane arrived in Jakarta, we were all tired and one of us was sick. We were all wanting nothing more than to be at our hotel, but the plane took the better part of 30 minutes driving to its parking bay. Then, when walking down the stairs to disembark from the plane we had to board a bus, which drove us to the airport. I made a joking comment on the plane that this might happen. Really, I didn't think it would...

On the bus heading for the airport.

When trying to find a taxi to drive us to our hotel, we were swamped by the unofficial drives whom you had to negotiate, but the police came and these drives quickly disappeared into the airport crowd. By this time we had organized a taxi with a metre and were waiting for it to arrive. Our hotel was brillant, we all got upgrade to two bed room suites and we had a excellent view of the surrounding suburb of Jakarta. Jakarta though bigger reminded me a lot of Brisbane in Australia.

Jakarta hotel room

These are some pictures of Menteng, Jakarta. We hang around Menteng the last two days as we were too tired to do much else.

Epicwalk - shopping centre

This is a model of the Menteng suburb of Jakarta. It has our hotel, Epicwalk, the Australian Embassy and the new Trans Jakarta busways. Plus many, many more things...

Our hotel behind the Mosque

Movie theater

Trying to bargain di Jalan Malioboro

I attempted to bargain at the markets in Malioboro street. I had been waiting to do this for nearly 4 months and had been trying to practise my numbers in Bahasa Indonesia, so I would not be ripped off. My Indonesian teacher back in Australia had organized us to do role plays to prepare for bargaining while visiting the markets. So I was very keen to see if my language skills were good enough or how much I need to improve. I checked out a few store to start with and then went back to one to give it a try. I asked how much a particular shirt was and they quoted Rp 40.000. Keen to bargain I replied with Rp 20.000 and thought that I would only have to go up a little. The shop assistant replied quickly in Indonesian saying something that I couldn't understand and then requoted the Rp 40.000 price. This went back and forward for a while, which was when my friend pointed out the below sign to me, which states that you can't bargain at that stall. I ended up paying Rp 40.000 for the shirt. In fact most of the stores I went to wouldn't bargain and I ended up paying full price. But at lest I tried. Tidak apa-apa, saya sudah coba!

The sign stating you can't bargain.

The items I purchased at the market.

A statue in Jalan Malioboro.

The famous pillar in Yogyakarta.

Pendamping farewell

There was a party held to farewell the pendampings. A "pendamping" is a buddy or guide that we were matched with at the beginning of the program. My pendamping was Teguh, we caught up a number of times, and had much in common. Teguh is just about to graduate from a Masters of Education. He is nearly finished submitting his thesis. I am also completing my Masters in Education and will be starting to write a thesis this year. A number of awards were handed out during the party, Damian gave his pendamping the "best hair award". As his pendamping had long hair.

After the party we went for dinner, at what became Damian and mine favorite restaurant, Rumah Makanan Aceh. I had developed a taste for their food and the teh tarik panas (hot milk tea). Teguh was able to ask if he could take photos of how the teh (tea) is made. The teh is poured from one glass to another until it has bubbled.

Teguh and me

Damian's pendamping Steve.
Notice the long hair.

The making of teh tarik panas.

Teh Tarik

Jalan Tikus - Short cut

I managed to catch up with my old Indonesian assistant while in Yogyakarta. Tri was on a study break from Australia and had returned to visit her family in Indonesia. I was able to meet her husband and daughter as they took me and a friend to dinner at Ayam Goreng. It was the first night that I had tasted ayam goreng (fried chicken) and ikan goreng (fried fish). We ate in the traditional Indonesia way, with our right hand. The technique of using your hand to eat presented a challenge to me, but I enjoyed it as I had never tried this before. Now days many Indonesians use a fork and a spoon to eat.

On the way home they took us through the back streets of Yogyakarta. Tri explained many things such as, small stores on the side of the street that stock 1 litre of petrol so you can quickly refuel your motorbike. This petrol is kept in a clear glass jar, similar to our old glass milk bottles. Tri also mentioned the word for "short cut" in Bahasa Indonesia is "Jalan Tikus". Literally "jalan" means "street" and "tikus" means "mouse or rat". So "Jalan Tikus" means "a road a mouse or rat would take". It was great to catch up with Tri and meet her family.

The restaurant

Ayam Goreng

Marapi village Tour - Rumah Pelangi

We were lucky enough to spend a day in a village that was located around Mount Marapi. Mount Marapi is one of the world most active volcanos and is located to the north of Yogyakarta. The village is now recovering from a recent eruption that occurred late last year. We first met and were provided morning tea at the newly built community arts gazebo. This is a place where the community can meet to discuss such things as their "chicken scholarship" or teach their younger children about the traditional customs of dance and music. By doing this they ensure that their cultural heritage is past onto the next generation. The "chicken scholarship" is a program where students in year 4 or 5 are responsible for the safe keeping of a chicken. The students have a chance to meet with others in the program once a week in order to discuss their experiences with their chicken and seek help from each other if required. This scholarship helps build responsibility and resilience skills in those who participate. There was also another program where students drew half a picture of their village, the picture is was then posted to a school in Canberra, Australia where it was finished and returned. Much more information was given about these programs, but unfortunately it was all in Bahasa Indonesia and I did not have someone to translate for me till near the end.

After morning tea, we then visited a village community, where we had our second morning tea. We then interacted with the local children. We walked to a stream and spring that had recently been connected and tried throwing rocks across the stream to knock over a tower built of rocks. After this we played soccer and then headed back to the village. I was impressed by how green and lush the village was, but also noticed the areas of land that were still recovering from the eruption. Some of the students also mentioned how they were evacuated from the village during the eruption. In the afternoon we returned to the community arts gazebo to watch the children perform the traditional dance, music and songs that they had learnt. Before returning home.