Friday 11:30 pm:
The moment I walked into my house after school at four o'clock I jumped in bed and cashed out for the night. Around 11:30 I woke up to the sound of heavy rain and a rumbling stomach. After getting some dinner and hopping in the shower, I dove back in bed and watched Finding Nemo (twice).
Saturday 3:40 am:
After downing some coffee (which these days I only drink for emergency caffeination) I jumped on Leona and headed for SPH. I was going to park my bike there for the weekend and get picked up there. It was a good thing security was expecting me, or else I think they'd be thinking that some teacher was off her rocker and ready to work at the wee hours of the morning.
I was the sixth person in a long line of people that had to be picked up. From school we headed into Jakarta to make a group stop at a 24 hour gas station. Febri and I talked almost the entire ride - I was so buzzed from my coffee. I don't think my mouth ever stopped moving until we got to the harbor.
Right around the harbor, it was chaos. Since it is still Ramadan, Muslims are out and about and eating before their fast begins. The fish market was a sea of people, it's amazing that we didn't hit one or six of them. It's like there is no traffic laws in this country (in regards to drivers or pedestrians). We parked and made a trek through a flooded alley way to our boat.
I now know how the pilgrims on the Mayflower felt after being on this boat. There were two levels to this wooden boat, no chairs, just flat tarped surfaces. Seating is first come, first serve, so you want to get their early to get plenty of room. The people who board first make a point of sprawling out getting extra leg room, the people who board last get the short end of the stick and are shoulder to shoulder.
Saturday 6:00 am
The boat hit the open sea a little past six. After sharing some early morning snacks and snapping photos, we curled up into the most comfortable position possible and caught some z's. There were 15 of us on our "pre-holiday" adventure, and we used each other and our bags as pillows for our nap time.
Saturday 9:00 am
We docked at Tidung. Tidung is actually two islands: one small, one large. They are bridged together by a dock and bridge. It was sunny and sweltering from the moment we stepped out of the shade of the boat. Immediately everyone put sunscreen on, as did I. I've learned my lesson by not wearing sunscreen. My philosophy this weekend was "I'm white chicken who will get fried if I don't cake on the sunscreen." This was a big motivational factor for me...I got tan but not burned (first time ever).
We walked through the concrete brick streets that were quite narrow. Immediately I was immersed into "true" Indonesia. Where I live in Sentul is quite developed and westernized. Tidung it is not up to speed, but the simplicity is serene and happiness seems to be pulsating out of the people on the island.
After going through a maze of streets, we arrived at our home for the next 24 hours. There were two rooms and a rather spacious living room. Putri and I shared a room, as did our new friends Erwin and Angie. Everyone else slept on mats and blankets in the living room. There were eight of us bunking here and it was more than enough space for us to enjoy each other's company without being on top of each other.
Saturday 10:30 am
I was ready for snorkeling from the moment I jumped off the boat and onto the dock at Tidung. Within minutes of arriving at our home, I changed into my swimming suit and just for kicks I put on my snorkeling gear. I putzed around the house constantly looking at the clock wondering when we could leave.
I put on a swim suit cover and decided to kill some time by going exploring. I walked down the street as far as I could go and came to an open field. There were many men and women working on wooden boats, repairing them and repainting them. Like a tourist, I started taking photos and walking up to the seashore, trying to find the best photo ops. A man came up to me and asked if I wanted to buy one of the boats (because I can use it in landlocked Sentul - ha) and after politely declining, I decided to take my picture with one instead.
I came back and it was lunch time. One hour closer to snorkeling. Lunch was very interesting. It was coconut rice with fish and fish-paste biscuits. I tried it. Still not much of a fish fan. We also had fried banana and fresh fruit. Yummy, yummy!
Saturday 1:45 pm
Finally snorkeling time! We had been on the boat a good 45 minutes before we anchored. After figuring out whose fins were whose, we plunged into the warm gentle waters of the Java Sea. How pretty! So many different kinds of coral and fish! I wish I had an underwater camera so I could capture all the breathtakingly beautiful things I saw beneath the surface.
No snorkeling trip would be complete without oodles amounts of photos - especially when you have so many people with cameras in their hands every time you lift your head out of the water.
We went to three separate snorkeling spots. Each area was unique and lush. The last spot was quite wavy and difficult not to get pushed back by the current. After the last dive, we were wiped and ready to call it a (successful) day. We anchored right near the bridge between the two islands and watched the sunset before returning back home.
Saturday 6:45 pm
After showering (with a tub of cold water and a plastic bucket - very refreshing but quite comical), we had a barbecue on the seashore. We sat on concrete blocks, under a blanket of stars that hung over us, and enjoyed dinner and much laughter.
The mosque worship service began at seven o'clock. It went off at six as well to signal breaking of the fast, but at seven, the worship service and chanting is projected throughout the whole island. A new experience for me to hear. Although there are a number of mosques in Sentul, I do not live near any of them and I rarely hear them.
Saturday 8:00 pm
Putri and I decided to hit the sack (as did much of the rest of our house). We were planning on getting up at 5:30 for sunrise. However after laying in bed (with the lights on) the mosque was still going. It was so loud (especially with just being a few doors down from us). We talked until the worship service ended - although I can't quite remember what we talked about. It didn't take long after for us to fall asleep.
Sunday 2:00 am
Que the mosque. I remember waking up but I'm not quite sure for how long. Putri got to experience my sleep talk. It's becoming more and more of a bad habit.
Sunday 5:45 am
I set my alarm for 5:15. It's a good thing Putri woke up to it. I did the same thing I do most school days - push the snooze button and hope for a few more minutes of sleep time. Putri shook me awake and said that everyone was ready and just about out the door. I jumped out of bed and was instantly ready to conquer whatever adventure was calling my name.
Putri, Febri, Ririn, and I walked to the docks. Sadly there wasn't much of a sunrise. It was very cloudy. However we managed to make a unique (and disturbing) discovery: a decapitated baby crocodile. Yikes!
We went back for breakfast before round two of exploring. I have never been much of a breakfast person, but I was cajoled into trying it. Rice and squid. I got the heebie jeebies just typing the word "squid". I tried the squid and it was spice and tasty, but to think that I actually devoured (even a small portion) makes me cringe. Squid freaks me out to a whole other level of discomfort. However I was brave and scraped my plate clean.
After this I had to use the bathroom. You may think, why are you putting this in your blog? Normally I wouldn't tell write on trips to the potty, but where we were staying had the one and only squatty potty. I have been avoiding these things since I came to Indonesia and now I finally had to use the bathroom and couldn't put it off any longer.
Sure, I know how to use a squatty potty - especially after some family vacations where my father pulled off on the side of the road instead of stopping at a public restroom. Still it's awkward and takes a lot of effort to make it in the porcelain express rather than the tile that you are standing on.
Sunday 7:00 am
Everyone hopped on their bikes and we pedaled to the end of the island. After parking our bikes in a pit of sand, we began walking across the connecting bridge/dock. It is nicknamed the "love" bridge after many people meeting their spouse on that bridge (sadly no such luck on this trip - maybe next time). The bridge is deteriorating and rotting. I felt as if I was playing hopscotch, only I was 5 feet up and the result of a wrong move could end up costing you a concussion, broken limb, or a splash in the sea.
We came to the infamous bridge, where lots of people jump into the water. I had been talking the big talk and saying I'd jump. It was a 25 - 30 foot drop, how scary could it be? I climbed the bridge and immediately backed down. Everyone jumped in with their two cents saying "I promised" - which I did no such thing. We continued walking and Ririn suggested that she would do it if I did it. I decided I might reconsider my withdraw as we got to small Tidung island and relaxed under some palm and pine trees with some fresh coconut water.
Out came the cameras - and you can pretty much guess what came next. If you are clueless - just check out facebook and you'll see there is no shortage of pictures :P
Sunday 10:00 am
I came up to the bridge, looking it square in the face. I got to the top and gave in. I handed off my belongings to Putri, giving her full responsibility of things in case I die (In case you are wondering, I'm one of those drastic "what if" people). My heart was racing and I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life. Holding onto the railing with nothing but air between you and the water is terrifying.
A few deep breaths later, I just did it. It was incredibly exhilarating. When I emerged I was energized and excited - so I decided to do it once again. My friend Ririn was holding on for dear life at the top. She couldn't quite be convinced to jump, so I went.
After jumping a second time (like a pro) my friend Leon jumped off the bridge. Ririn was still holding onto the bridge as if it were the last thing she might ever do in her entire life. I swear I probably counted "3...2...1..." twenty times. However finally she jumped in and did it! A huge round of applause erupted and I felt like a movie star. I definitely got my 15 seconds (not minutes - ha) of fame. I loved every moment of it and I'm so glad I did it.
Sunday 12:00 pm
With lunch on the go, we headed over to the loading dock and got on the boat. It was a different boat than the one we arrived on (same set up just smaller). However by the time Febri and I stepped aboard, it was packed. Instead of trying to find a small cramped space, we sprawled out in the uncovered bow and loaded up on sunscreen.
Sunday 1:00 pm
Within an hour at sea, a storm was brewing on the eastern front. Somehow we caught the tail end of it with some cold rain and wisps of wind. We covered up in sarongs, blankets, and towels, preparing to get drenched. The storm left just as fast as it came and just as it cleared up, Jakarta was within sight range.
Sunday 6:00 pm
Home at last! With the van full of people we had, I was one of the last to get home. I made it home just before the rain bombarded Sentul for the evening. This has been one of the best weekends since I've been in Indonesia.
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