MC.INDONESIA/JAVA JOURNEY 2009 no.6

Seated in a 'Becak' you can really relax and quietly enjoy the city life.

24 Nov. / Yogyarkarta / How was this Indonesia Journey

This journey was very different because I already at the beginning got problems with my back. I didn’t have problems with my MC. Instead I had lot of problems with my physical, which came to dominate this journey.

Honda'en get a 'Tune Up'.

This MC. Honda 200 cc. Sports Tiger, each day has been 100% reliable. Before the start of my journey, a Honda shop gave it a 'Tune Up' check. I would be sure it was 100% OK. Everything was checked, the voltage of the drive chain, brakes, clutch, oil change, for voltage, pressure, light, liquid on the battery and etc.

After 1.500 Km. I again had a 'Tune Up' check in Bali. I had some initial problems the last couple of days where I had to use the kick start, the electric start was dead. It was obviously not so lucky when you have back problems. It turned out that the battery should be replaced. Moreover, they believed also that the chain drive was replaced because it could no longer be tightened up.

It was good that it had the extra power, although it is only 200 cc. That makes my overtaking safer because it had a good acceleration so I could quickly overtake the big heavy trucks. It also performed well the steep hill rises. A better suspension, would have been nice on the bumpy roads.

Here in Indonesia If you drive an average of 80 km. It is not worthwhile to run faster. 100 m. ahead, you then again had to overtake.

In Indonesia, you must legally use a helmet and they do, what they did in India. In both countries they don’t use safety jacket, trousers and boots. In India, I used sometimes my very warm safety jacket and my leather pants and high leather boots.

I have not used my jacket here in Indonesia, but drive in a thin long sleeved shirt and on the hillside I used a thin windbreaker I bought in Yogyakarta. I have not used my Leather pants and leather boots. In Yogyakarta, I could not find any shop which sold safety equipment for MC. so I never got an extra thin safety jacket.

On my MC. Pilgrims journey in 2003 I could have 50 kg. luggage when I took my own MC. from Copenhagen. It was packed with two side bags and a giant backpack. I had some camping equipment and extra parts for my MC.

In India where I rented my MC. I also had some spare equipment, but not so much camping equipment. So I had probably 40 kg. luggage. Here in Indonesia, where I also hired my MC. I have chosen not to have any spare parts, only some tools because I knew that I always would find and garage. This time I had only 25 kg. luggage.

On my MC. Pilgrims journey to the Middle East 2003, I drove with the director Nullo Facchini approx. 12.000 km. within 2 months and traveled through 11 different countries. On this trip I had purchased an Aprilia 650 cc. Pegaso. It was almost 3 times as strong as the Honda Tiger I was driving here in Indonesia. We were driving 250-450 km. each day with a holiday around. every 5 days. So the average speed was 120-140 km. so sometimes our speed was 140-160 km. We had a set route and timetable of countries and places we had to visit on this Journey.

On this pilgrimage it was not the major historical monuments that filled your mind, but the random visual and emotional situations. This was new for me to focus on the individual, instead of the sublime works what you do, when you travel to the big Mecca’s in the world. 

On this trip, the focus was on the very small mekka’s, villages and people. It was these random meetings that gave me the greatest experiences on this journey. The simple man came out more clearly and were able to affect all the senses. In cities where the volume of people, cars, buildings and noise easily drowns the individual.

The people you meet here in the small villages, is at home and most have a lot of time and excess energy to take on a stranger and offer you a cup of tea.

The purpose of my MC.Indian Travel 2008, was not only to make a physical MC. straps ride, but finding a balance between body and mind. Meeting Indians and their culture in a different and a little more physically demanding way. I think I found a harmony, rhythm and speed on this journey, which suited just fine for my little restless temperament.

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To give journey'en content and structure, it was important every day to follow up with notes in my logbook, take photo's, write short reports and planning the next day's route and read about the area. These requirements also did that you sometimes felt a little pressure and stress.

I think I met the Indians and their culture in a positive way. Because of the many technical problems with my MC.Enfielden I came in contact with many Indians.

Schoolchildren who always stood up for some positions when I took photos of them.

Modern and yet traditional, pay attention to his sneakers.

The purpose of this journey was to meet Indonesians and their culture more directly through contact with individuals in the small villages. That's the way I think I get the most out of moving me from place to place on MC. My route was only loosely defined, so that along the road could be change. Every day I had therefore to decide what should happen now.

Unfortunately I got problems with my back already on the first journey there affect this entire journey. The strain of my muscle was probably because I had stretched myself too hard, both physically and mentally. My body said stop.

The long flight without sleep, the first days of stressful work to get all the things I needed. 

The extreme heat and humidity. My impatience to get started on my journey. All these factors have played a role. I have been too overwrought.

Rather than take it easy after I had back problems, I was too restless and wanted to get going. I found it difficult to recognize that the problem with my back was a big problem. I should have listen a little better.

It was also unfortunate that I didn’t found a nice place by the sea immediately, but instead forced myself up on the MC. to move forward.

Airconditioning already from the beginning of my stay in Yogyakarta have taken hold in my bronchi so I suffered from violent coughing spells that really tore into the sore back muscles nerve bundles. I suffered also from constipation. At one point I also started to beat out the entire body. These red buds reminded me of the start of hives, which I had 5 months ago. 

At that time, my body got completely red and formed exuding burning blisters. My head swells up with fluid. I looked like the elephant man.

On the road during rush hour in Kula, there was a ceremony of a family member killed in traffic.

The dead carrying around on the last earthly journey.

The fear was in me that I might again had hives and in this heat. But after 4 days of symptoms. I think the rash has come from the various chemicals I now use. I use sunlotion, I take pills to stabilize my stomach, I take strong medicine for my cough, I get other chemical from the food into the stomach than usual. Masseuse uses different oils on my skin.

My India journey, was a more relaxed journey, where I rest where I wanted. But I did however put myself under a little pressure because I had created a route I thought was realistic, which I very much wanted to implement a total of 3.000 km. It was not realistic. It was incredibly hard to move quickly through the Indian landscape.

Here in Indonesia, I have completed a total of 2.505 km. Something more than I did in India. But this time, I didn’t had the feeling of being on a great journey since the roads have been too nice and the dense residential makes you not feel you are out there when the crows return. I only have 5-6 times polished my helmet. Honda looks like I have only used it for city driving, but I've also been through some heavy rain, which probably removed the most dust.

Not a singel day I have felt really dusty and dirty, just sweaty, even though I have been driving on smaller dirt roads. It says something about how much humidity it is here in Indonesia. Nothing will dry without it hanging in the sun or there is little wind.

MC.Indonesia/Java/Bali 2009 / 2.505 km / 15 Driving Days /
Yogyakarta/Sarangang/Tulungagung/Ngliyep/Lumajang/
Banyowangi/Lemondang/Berawa/Pande/Lovina Beach/
Pasir Putik/Jombang/Ngawi/Sragen/Yoyakarta/

Indonesia

My impression after this MC. journey of Indonesia, which unfortunately was a little more superficial than I had imagined. I did not have the surpluses required to be open to meeting new situations and seek alternative routes. I have been on a cultured tourist journey with inlaid recreation and a little coral diving.

Indonesia seems like a much more homogenous and harmonious country than India. India is a country filled with incredibly many opposites both culturally, religiously and economically. As a tourist you experience therefore many more exciting and visually interesting and human situation in this chaos.

In Indonesia, I had the feeling that the wealth is distributed a little better here than in India, although I have heard that Indonesia at a time remained the highest of countries suffering from corruption. There were very few beggars and very few I saw sleeping on the street. They are importunate as all business people are in this part of the world.

My feeling of being here in Indonesia - was like when a stranger lay a gently affectionate hand on my shoulders to welcome me. People are very patient, smiling and freindly.

I had expected to be greeted by the incredible variety of insects, but there were very few. The few flies I saw were very relaxed and sat down very gently on one, so you almost do not notice it and just one simple hand waving, they were completely gone and never came back again annoying you.

There were many small geckos that climbed the same room, but otherwise I saw not so many different reptiles, besides a great big iguana in Bali at an abandoned temple. I didn’t go very far into the rainforest. Again due to lack of physical energy to explore Indonesia.

In an attempt to avoid the rain there was pouring down, I beat my head into the taxi door edge on my way to Yogyakarta's airport. I think it's a very subtle symbolism on my MC. Journey here in Indonesia where I feel that I have had ‘my head too much under my arm.’

It was just the right time to say goodbye to Indonesia since the rainy season now truly begun.

This ends my journey from Indonesia here around the equator.

Hot wind

   

           AUM             

Bjarne v.H.H.Solberg

Billedkunstner & Scenograf
BvHHS@email.DK
www.BvHHS.com
+45 30230036

MC.INDONESIA/JAVA JOURNEY 2009 no.5

MC.Indonesia/Java/Bali 2009 / 2.500 km / 15 Driving Days /
Yogyakarta/Sarangang/Tulungagung/Ngliyep/Lumajang/
Banyowangi/Lemondang/Berawa/Pande/Lovina Beach/
Pasir Putik/Jombang/Ngawi/Sragen/Yoyakarta/

20 Nov. Back at Java, heading towards the city Pasir Putih

The last 30 km. driving in Bali is in torrential rain. Streaks of raindrops hitting a with a drumming sounds. On the bare backs of hands it felt as gentle pinpricks. The road is quite fine and there is almost no traffic, so I defy weather and let the rain pour down on me. Only my shoes compromised. Enjoy being able to relax on the ferry.

So far I had traveled with a small rucksack on my back, to protect my computer from the many hard shocks that it would have if it were in the luggage, which is bolted to the MC. My computer was dead, so I chose to pack it together with the rest of my luggage. It was a huge relief to remove this burden from my shoulders, although it was not very heavy.

After 8 hours and 200 km. I got to Pasir Putih. I had hoped to find a lovely hotel here on Java's north coast, but instead I found a beach that was full of very poor taste and style.

Some places where you cross a bridge, there could well be chaos if two too large vehicles passing each other.

21 Nov. were on my way already 7 am to Jombang

After 230 km. I reach Jombang. After a little rest I try to find an internet cafe in the rain. A layout / print offered me that I could use his computer and Internet at home with him privately. He sat on his little scooter wearing only t-shirt and shorts while the rain fell in heavy drops. He'd probably feel guilty that he had sent me in the wrong direction a little earlier in my quest for an internet cafe. I told him that I needed to use a computer 3 hours. 

It was perfectly fine with him. He persuaded me and I folded my umbrella and got on his scooter. He lived not far away.

Here I sat in their living room or was it workspaces. Anyway, there was a television the host, sat engrossed in front. The daughter of approx. 3 years playing computer games next to me, it spoke English to her. The mother was safe by cooking. The smallest was running round. I got a nice cup of teh and a very solid cake from Sumatra, which was wrapped in a very nice box. First I thought the box contained swabs. The cake was really good, but it was very heavy in my stomach. Of slightly misguided politeness, I ate the whole. I had no room for any evening meals.

Again, I was drawn into an Indonesian family world. Wall above the computer was covered with family photo's, so I got a visual insight into the wedding and the various stages of their life.

22 nov. driving toward the city Ngawi 142 km.

I purposely chose a medium-sized town, hoping to find a cozy hotel. But it is actually a little difficult in the smaller towns, because there are not so many choices. In India they have a much greater range of hotels. It is most likely that there are more tourists who travel around in India and perhaps several businessmen.

I have seen many hotels that look nice bright and friendly from the outside, but when you see the rooms, you find out that they have no proper daylight or view. Most Indonesians might need shade, because they have some much bright light. I want a view and light and does not need to look inwards.

It was a very tiring driving tour. I was unlucky to bump into a violent rain, the water flooded the road so I was forced to slow down. The big trucks then begin to overtake and with the oncoming also sending cascades of water against one, it was too risky to continue to run. I chose as many others on the MC. to drive into the side and use one of the many shelter shed where we MC. people could seek shelter. I stopped at one, I could see servers something to drink. After 1 hours the rain had subsided a lot and I took the chance like many others and drove on. Fortunately, it rained less and less.

Shelter on the opposite side where I was enjoy a cup of coffee.

In the town of Ngawi I found a low budget hotel that is visually simple and OK. On their bed I lie, however, and lashes with a crooked spine. I turned the heavy mattress, but still it is the same bias. I find it very træbunden in bed, which has established itself strongly. I fold a blanket and put it under the mattress to bridge the gap as much as possible.

Before I went to bed, I had visited a couple of Internet cafes in the city where you were sitting directly on the floor, as Muslims do in the mosques. It was very bad for my back and entire body.

Next morning I woke up quite rigid throughout the body. I had to get massage if I had to continue my driving. I went down to reception and asked if they knew a masseuse. Half hours after at. 7 am. there came an older masseuse.

From my balcony, I am enjoying school children who cycle to school on a protected roads.

23 nov. I chose to run a very short distance to spare my physical

After 60 km. I stopped in the town Sragen. It seemed like a nice city. I found a lovely modern hotel and chose the best suite, to get some views. It gave me the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise behind Mt. Merabu at 3.142 m.

I had again a need for massage. The hotel refers to a Japanese massage parlor, where they gave me the Japanese Chiropractic. A very beautifully decorated room with partitions and Japanese massage benches.

They used a form of massage where they slowly put more and more pressure on your spine, and in this way to squeeze it into its proper place. Everything was done to quiet and meditative Japanese tones and dripping sound from a small source.

Visited a couple of Internet cafes, which only occasionally had real internet connection. Quite frustrating.

24 nov. Towards Yogyakarta

The wind is part stronger and it has become somewhat cooler since I left Bali. The weather was fine for MC. driving and I enjoy that I could pick up speed and drive faster because the roads here was broader.

I'd again say to myself that I would choose the smaller roads, to discover something interesting on the last stretch way back to Yogyakarta. The major roads won, I did not have the energy to drive the smaller roads. My body needed a complete rest as quickly as possible.

When I arrived in Yogyakarta, I noticed how the entire body and psyche gave way. Now I could finally relax totaly, I was not forced to think longer 'Where to go the next day'.

Back at this beautiful hotel I know of a good restaurant nearby that makes vegetarian dishes. A good internet cafe, without noisy music and good keyboard.

The only drawback was the large number of noisy mosques that broadcast its message over each other all day and not very musical. I actually thought it was a Hindu driven Guesthouse I lived in because it was very similar to many Hindu hotels in Bali. But it was owned by a Muslim family.

In this otherwise quiet and calm internet cafe there was a school right next door and they started to sing and beat a very monotonous sounds of many percussion instruments. It sounds not very good. The second night it was a little more rhythmic and musical to listen to. The third night I heard and saw them in the local street festival.

One days when I passed the school I could hear how they very loud in the chorus, repeated various texts by the teacher.

Sometimes when you passed one of the mosques in the cities, you almost get a shock when they sent the high mantra-tones directly in your head from some bad speakers. Muslims can not visually compete with the Hindus, but they can at the sound level.

           
            AUM             

Bjarne v.H.H.Solberg