INDONESIA - SUMATRA: TANGKAHAN, PART II, JUNGLE WALK

 July 2, 2023

We woke up early on our second day in Tangkahan, had breakfast in the lodge, and headed out on a jungle walk with our local guide. To get to the jungle, we had to first ford the river. Luckily, it was relatively shallow. The water was very clear, but the bottom was rocky. It wasn't a very comfortable walk for us, but our local guide Suker seemed to be walking on pillows.

After putting our shoes and socks back on, we headed into the dense, wet foliage. Suker stopped often to point out interesting plants or to tell us facts about the jungle.

INDONESIA - SUMATRA: TANGKAHAN PART I, ELEPHANTS

 July 1, 2023

What Sumatra lacks in highways it more than makes up for in unusual sites alongside the road. There is a never-ending stream of motorcycles being driven and ridden by interesting folks.

This little roadside stand with laundry on the line behind it was selling ice tea for 20¢ for a "jumbo."

We saw our first Indomaret, a chain of convenience stores much like Circle K or 7-Eleven.

INDONESIA - SUMATRA, MEDAN: MAIMOON PALACE, GUNUNG TIMUR BUDDHIST TEMPLE, AND CABE HIJO

 July 1, 2023

After a 17-hour flight to Singapore, a 15-hour time change, and a full day on our feet, we really needed sleep, but we got up at 4:30 AM, pulled ourselves together and called a car, and made our way to the airport for a 7:00 AM flight to the city of Medan, located on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The flight itself was just 1 hour 5 minutes.

Arrival was complicated. We got in line at Passport control, only to be sent back to buy a 30-day "Visa on Arrival." In all our correspondence with the travel company and research online, this was not mentioned. The price was $35/person, and of course they required cash (no credit), and we had yet to visit an ATM in Indonesia to get some cash, so we had to dig out US dollars. 

We presented our VOA at Passport Control, after which we had to fill out and print a customs report, then go through customs, then have our carry-on luggage x-rayed. We think that was the most steps we have ever had to take on entry to a foreign country.

I had checked a bag, so we made a bathroom stop (apparently women are identified by their shopping bags here?) and then waited for my suitcase, hoping it wasn't one of the suitcases dangling artistically from the ceiling. I was happy to see it come rolling out on the conveyor belt.

INDONESIA TRIP: SINGAPORE, PART III - GARDENS BY THE BAY AND JUMBO SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

 June 30, 2023

After our time in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, we called up another Grab ride to take us to the Gardens by the Bay, one of the iconic tourist sites in Singapore. We drove through the business district/downtown area to get there, and I was struck by the variety and aesthetics of the city's architecture.  Almost every building had something unusual or interesting about it.

By the time we got to Gardens by the Bay, we were hot and tired from walking around the botanic gardens.

INDONESIA TRIP: SINGAPORE PART II - BOTANIC GARDENS

 Tuesday, July 1, 2023

It finally stopped raining, or at least diminished to a very light drizzle, and we could move on to what had been our first planned activity for Singapore but which got bumped to early afternoon because of the deluge: a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

We got our hopes up when we saw this sign, but alas, no wild monkeys or otters approached us.

A few steps into the garden and we already knew this was something special. Check out the waterfall around the base of the palm tree. I've never seen that before! This is one of three gardens in the world, and the only tropical garden, to be honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

INDONESIA TRIP: SINGAPORE PART I - OLD AIRPORT ROAD HAWKER CENTRE AND THE SINGAPORE NATIONAL GALLERY

 June 30, 2023

Because it was raining as it can only rain in tropical areas--like water from a firehose--we needed to go somewhere indoors. We rearranged our plans and headed to the Old Airport Road Hawker Centre. "Hawker Centres" are basically huge food courts, and they are very popular in Singapore. Opened in 1973, the one on Old Airport Road is supposed to be the biggest (over 160 food stalls) and the best.

The stalls were just beginning to open when we arrived, and there were already quite a few people scouting out the many options.

We learned right away that we needed to bus our own table.