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Travels - Indonesia 2007
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.
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]
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]
Title:
Walkin the old Jakarta
Download: Click
HERE
with right button and select "save target
as..." or watch it on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_AJns_Tabo
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..." or watch it on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LNQlaHcztA
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
<< 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!