I’m back in Bukit Lawang!!
Our last night in Toba involved bbq fish and rice and of course eating with our hands (I’ve had to cut my nails). The next morning we dutifully waited for the 8:30am ferry, with Malum (jetski man) ready to waive us off. Then Malum received a text that there was not enough passengers for the 8:30am ferry so it was no longer coming. He went off to work while we waited for the 9:30am ferry. Sure enough 9:30am Malum reappeared on his jetski to wave us off. We had however, not seen the last of him, as about 3 stops into our journey he reappeared, having done a full costume change and was now working as our ferry conductor. It’s always quite difficult to be sure what peoples jobs are here!
Rabu was a very long drive back to bukit lawang, but with lots of beautiful views and good food on the way. Eventually I just about managed to find my way to my friend Ainis house (where I am staying) in the dark without falling into a rice field.
Kamis – after breakfast and a catch up with Aini, I headed over to the Trust. Hugging the kindergarten teachers and seeing the beautiful view from the roof the emotion definitely hit me, although things there are very different now with many new staff. After catching up with those I knew and meeting some of the new staff, I rummaged through the cupboards to reclaim some of my things. Unfortunately between a termite nest and the heat a lot of my clothes had been destroyed, but luckily most my favourite things have escaped unscathed! The highlight so far has been finding old letters – Dads accounts of brexit were especially entertaining and it’s funny that I found these letters about Boris coming to power on the very same day we learnt he was leaving!
After lunch at the school, I headed to my other friends classroom as the day before we had decided to get massages post long drive. I had never had an Indonesian massage before, but was pretty surprised to discover how few clothes it involves given that the rest of the culture is so focused on being covered up. I just couldn’t stop laughing as the experience was so bizarre, I hope I did not offend the massage lady, but luckily my friends found my reaction to the whole thing equally hilarious!
After this Aini and I headed for a swim in the river and then went back to hers to make Tempe burgers, although a huge storm and power cut delayed our plans a little!
Jumat – One week back in Sumatra! It already feels so much longer it is so easy to click back into life here, although my Indonesian is definitely not as good as it once was!
Friday morning is of course market day and I successfully acquired some new flip flops having broken two pairs of shoes already in the time I’ve been here. After the market I popped over to Fitris house.
After that we headed over to my favourite coconut spot and then into the centre of bukit lawang for a much needed swim!
Post swim I headed to bukit lawang indah, having heard that my friend Dodi had returned from Germany! It was so so good to see him and many of the other guys that I know who work there. Dodi was also only just back in Bukit Lawang for the first time in over two years having spent the covid period in Germany with his wife and son. As much as I know he missed them he was absolutely ecstatic to be home! It was so nice to catch up about his time in Germany – it made me laugh his accounts of joking on with his boss and having other staff ask him why he wasn’t scared – he admitted to me this was because he just sees everyone he works with in Germany as a tourist to be entertained!!
Sabtu– After a chill morning reading in the garden, I met my friend Sarah for lunch, a swim, more food and then a trip to the new bar! Which ended in a trip to the villages live music scene despite my conviction that I was going to go home early.
Minggu – after about 5 hours sleep it was time to get back up and get ready for eid ad al ha. By my understanding this celebration is more like Easter than Christmas, e.g less of a big deal then eid el Fitri, but we still passed several sacrificial cows and goats throughout the day. I spent the day with Fitri’s family and friends, I absolutely love her family all being together (minus one brother who is working away).
Senin – today is a pretty chilled day for me, I visited my a couple of friends houses this morning to catch up with them. One has a baby on the way and is learning a lot about being pregnant in Sumatran culture! She has been told she must bring the placenta home from hospital to bury in her garden, among other interesting traditions! I’m spending the of today in true tourist style, just relaxing near the river with a book! Although I might head to Bohorok later today to get some cash out.
My plan for tomorrow is to wash my clothes in the river with Fitri, then I am meeting some of Tris students in the afternoon so they can practice their English. Tomorrow evening one of my best friends from the U.K. is hopefully arriving here, although leaving China is proving an ordeal for her so fingers crossed that she gets here okay!!
Rosie Roams 