INDONESIA: OFF TO BORNEO VIA JAKARTA AND SOME THOUGHTS ON SUMATRA

 July 4, 2023

Our second night in Bukit Lawang was much quieter than the first as all the partiers appeared to have left, but it was still unbearably hot. We woke up at about 5:00 AM, and at 7:00 Bob got up to walk the grounds to look for birds and other animals. It was a beautiful morning.

I took a shower, then tried to get my hair to dry on its own. I eventually unplugged everything in the room and used my hair dryer on its lowest setting. The power stayed on and eventually I was able to dry my hair. It was my first day in Indonesia I didn't start the day with a wet ponytail.

Bob didn't see much on the property. When he got back, we went down for breakfast at about 8:00. Bob, worried about how much he had been sweating and possible dehydration, ordered a large bottle (~ 64 oz.) of water, a Coke Zero, and some juice. He drank at least 80 oz. of liquid, hoping to restore the equilibrium in his body. 

By the way, check out the cool lighting in the main dining area--dozens of woven baskets with lightbulbs inside.

We both ordered the crepe I'd had the day before, but this time with bananas in the batter in addition to the chocolate sauce. We also had passion fruit/tamarind juice that was beautiful to look at but not anything special to drink. 

INDONESIA - SUMATRA: BUKIT LAWANG AND GUNUNG LEUSER

July 2-3, 2023

We left Tangkahan at about 2:30, this time in a 4x4 with no AC, and it took us 2.5 hours to get to the EcoLodge at Bukit Lawang. The roads were bad but there were some paved stretches in groves of palm oil trees. Palm oil has replaced rubber, tobacco, and cacao as the area's #1 export. The palm oil acreage is mind-boggling.

We made one stop to get a drink and use a bathroom. It was a pretty spot for a drink, but not a very pretty squat toilet.

We made another stop because a truck had jack-knifed on the road, and another truck was trying to pull it out of the way.

We arrived at the Ecolodge Bukit Lawang ("Gate Hill") at about 5:00. We had a beautiful, light, modern room with a view of the Bohorok River. However, like our previous room at Tangkahan, there was no AC. I took the first photo below from our balcony and the second from ground level. The river looks pretty small, but in 2003, this river experienced a large-scale flash food that killed 242 people.

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.