Random thoughts on Indonesia.
The streets are crowded. There is enough cars to create a traffic jam and the there are 10 as many scooters as there are cars. The talking horns of years ago seem to be a thing of the past. The horns are still have alternative uses other than to express anger like they are used for in North America. They still say, ‘hello’, or ‘hey I am on you left (right), or ‘I am just around the blind corner’ and a few dozen other things but they are now used with discretion.
The drivers are extremely polite. In NA a driver trying to enter a long line of traffic from a parking area is likely to have a long wait. Some considerate driver in the line MIGHT wave them in but most people have their own agenda and just keep driving. In Indonesia drivers are more likely to make a space for a diver trying to make a left-hand turn or squeeze into a line. I am quite sure the gesture generates good karma and sooner or later that Karma comes back.
You can tell where people are from in the world by what side of the sidewalk they TRY to walk on. It not an infallible method of determining their home country but if a group of people are trying to walk on their right side they are most likely from NA or Europe and have not been in Indonesia long enough yet to do as the Romans do.
I did not see one e car in Indonesia the entire month we were there. There were only a couple of e scooters and no e bikes. As a side note very few bikes at all. I don’t think there is any infrastructure for charging the e vehicles. Petrol is king and it will be that way for a while.
Sidewalk maintenance is a low priority. Even in major tourist areas where sidewalks were once in place they have deteriorated to the degree of being a danger. As you walk along the walk window shopping is; glance at the walk ahead and analyze your next few steps, look at the shop beside you and repeat every few seconds.
Indonesian food is, I think, easy on the stomach. I had very little heartburn the entire two weeks we were there. At home I chew a tums tablet at least every couple of days. We did not eat at any truly Indoesian warungs but we did eat a some not so touristy warungs. We made sure we the food we ordered was cooked on site at the time we ordered it and did not suffer any ill effects. Things have improved for the tourist in the last few years. You can pretty much not worry about ordering ice in you drink but it is still a decision to be made with caution. If it is a place frequented by locals only I think it is best to err on the no ice side.
I am not much for air conditioning. Most of the time I find it too cold and prefer the cooling effect of a ceiling fan. I found Indonesia stinking hot this time. Especially when on land without the tempering effect of the water when you are on a boat. The AC anywhere, in a shop when we were window shopping, in a restaurant/warung when it had an indoor section, and in the hotel room when we returned from one of our 4 hours jaunts, is completely necessary to bring down the core temperature.
Normally I put my foot down when it comes to ‘tourist shows’, shows of cultural dance or the such put on specifically for tourists, so Debbie and I do not go. B expressed interest in attending and Debbie found a way around my refusal to attend. I picked the shadow puppet show and you may have already read I was somewhat disappointed. The next night we attended the traditional dance show. It was OK but I can assure you it will be the last time I go to see one no matter how many times we return to Indonesia.
I think I also mentioned, and maybe not, Indonesia is a cash society. It takes a bit to get used to using cash again. Counting out bills and coins and making sure you get the proper change. In many ways it is easier and more fun than using a card. When using money you are definitely more aware of the amount you are spending. The thing about money in Indonesia is has devalued so much you must carry around a very large wad of bills. The coins are almost worthless but are still in use, they are very light in weight so they aren’t much of a bother and don’t weight down your pockets. It would be more convenient if the government would either issue larger denomination of bills or revalue the existing money to meet the current value of goods and services.
These are just some odd thoughts about a very interesting country. A place worth visiting. A place where the people are so friendly and accepting of us aliens. Go but be respectful of their way of life and preserve what is there for next person to enjoy.