.: Travels - Indonesia :.

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Arrival date: 19 November 2007
Visa: 60 days
Trips: Jakarta, Bali
Abstract: Although the country is divided in few main and huge "islands", you have to take note that like in the Philippines, the total number of islands passes the 5,000 ! For sure you can find many adventures in Indonesia, very green forests, jungle, unspoiled shores, many scuba diving sites, parties in big cities, everything at super convenient prices, probably one of the cheapest countries at the moment. Technology is very 'retro' and it all look very old built. You'll probably notice very kind people around, not only with the tourists, but there is really friendliness even between them locals.

Local news: 

19 December 2007 - What happened in Bali - Just for those who were wondering besides the bad news of my stolen belonging, if I have anything interesting to tell about Bali and what have I been doing for 2 weeks on the island. The first good news is that I have learnt how to surf ! (Well at least being able to stand on the table with middle size waves and being able to turn and control the board a bit). I'm sure spending my youth on the skateboard helped me a lot as in less than 2 hours I was already very confident with the surf board. I participated to an Hinduism ritual by bathing in a common pool and drinking the "holy" water which was a very original experience (You can see the pictures in the Indonesian travel page...). I drove around the island with Arya's car searching for non commercialized spots, and made a bunch of new friends. I did enjoy my time in Bali yes, but I just don't understand why it's so overrated. Like, everyone is talking paradise about it, but actually it's nothing special, meaning, there is nothing you can't find in any other touristic destination. Is it for the beach? mmm I remember myself swimming through plastic bags and other garbage in Kuta and other famous beaches in bali. Is it for the waves? And what about australia then? Is it because it's a very cheap place? Come on, most of the places in south east asia are very cheap as well. The food or the females? mmm I wouldn't be so sure... Honestly the whole thing reminds me a bit about Thailand, same kind of tourists, same kind of bitches, and a hell of smiley and friendly people all around. [Click on the picture to enlarge the full size resolution]

06 December 2007 - Something very unpleasant - Very sad news here: while in Bali, a thief broke in my friend's villa and guess what they stole my jewel, the nosham laptop, my inseparable mate, trvel buddy and only best friend. Besides the economical damage, I lost many of the photos i took in Indonesia, the videos, a lot of my last writings, personal emails and files which i hope will not end up in the wrong hands. I had to block all my credit cards, some of my online accounts and change most of my passwords. The damage is big and irreversible. I will eventually buy a new one but for now, my travels, my mood and my brain is having a temporary breakdown. I have to switch off the line for sometime. Take a time off for myself. Days of silence for what happened. News strike. Goodbye and see you later.

21 November 2007 - 48h Stopover in Jakarta - Indonesia, my 34th country visited. First impression, the international airport is a very old built, probably in the '70ies. People are starring at me while in the bus to the city center, they are used to see white men traveling with private transports. The city is one of the most polluted I've ever been to. Taken a trip to the old-jakarta, the oldest and poorest area, it looks like Africa although the people are definitely much more kind. The modern jakarta looks like it's in war state: security guards with loaded guns and fingers ready on the trigger every corner, you must go through metal detector and bag scanners/checks before entering any building. It's also dirty and hell dusty everywhere. [In the picture, me on top of the viewpoint in the old jakarta, Click on the thumb to enlarge it]

Videos:

Title:  Walkin the old Jakarta
Download:  Click HERE with right button and select "save target as..."
Year and location: 2007, Jakarta, Indonesia  
Description:  Mixed clips of the old part of Jakarta, the visit to the maritime museum ecc...
Size:  100 Mb Format: .wmv high quality
Language: English
Credits: Video editing: Alan Rooster ; Soundtrack: 1) keroncong_kemayoran 2) Kekasih Gelapku ; Special thanks: Mary

Title:  Bali, retrieved clips
Download:  Click HERE with right button and select "save target as..."
Year and location: 2007, Bali, Indonesia  
Description:  What is left of the few clips I shot in Bali
Size:  100 Mb Format: .wmv high quality Language: English
Credits: Alan Rooster ; Ayu, Arya ; Soundtrack: 1)Shakira - Underneath your clothes 2) Kekasih Gelapku

Photogallery Jakarta:

Photogallery Bali:

<< From the left, Ayu's sister who is waiting for a baby, Arya, Ayu, Ayu's mother.


>> Right, Ayu's house looks more like a museum, it's one of the coolest private house I've ever seen

<< Left, Bali offers you amazing sunsets every day! Even the locals, they seem to enjoy and never getting tired to participate!


>> Right, An untouched beach! If you get to know the right people, the can show you places which are still hidden and not known by the bastard tourists

<< Believe it or not, you could actually making a living out of the daily abandoned Hindu food offers to the gods, that include bananas, rice cakes, apples and vegetables at times! Next to me a dog is just waiting for me to leave, to take over the free food spot!

P.S. A friend of mine from Hong Kong, Yan, decided to take a holiday trip to Bali in the same month I was there, so we were actually supposed to catch up, but sadly I had to leave the island and in the end we couldn't meet. However even if I wasn't personally there to welcome Yan, I introduced Arya to her who took fully care of my friend. It was nice, looking at her travel photos and see that we hanged out with the same people in Bali! Please check her Bali photogallery too!

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