It's a difficult one!
Having recently been to Bhutan and Burma, both predominantly Buddhist countries and both most definitely having been effectively cut off from the rest of the world, either due to geographical challenges, regime or feudal restrictions, I was mistakenly expecting Indonesia to be somehow similar. Indonesia is a developing country, with the usual issues that you would expect, poverty, poor infrastructure, corruption, litter....... But it is a lot more developed than I had expected. The roads that there are were generally well maintained, and in some places were even landscaped! In fact it is telling that we saw so many garden centres along our way! Obviously not of Le Friquet proportions, more sellers on the roadside, but people took pride in their yards.
It is upsetting to see so much land being cleared and planted with palm trees or rubber plantations, but ultimately there is the demand and that pays the money, so until the economics change the trend will continue.
And because the majority of the country were converted to Islam there is a different vibe. Most of the mosques are relatively new buildings and are more functional then decorative. As Bali is predominantly Hindu over compensates for the larger islands with every house having their own shrines, plus the usual village temples!
The food definetly gets better and more varied the further west we travelled, and the fish is fabulous. Much as I love it there is only such much Nasi Goreng one person can eat, and unfortunately I find the Sambal just too spicey!
The people have all been very welcoming. Always full of smiles, after a wave or a "hello".
So what will I miss:
The heat (and total lack of need for any cardigan whatsoever)
The sound of the geckos (apart from the one directly above my bed at the moment - noisey blighter!), chit chats and cicadas
Massages, and for about £7!
Smelling incense from the endless offerings in Bali
Holiday drinks: Bintang / Long Island Iced Tea / Ginger Fizz
Asking for sugar "on the side" because they love everything so incredibly sweet!
Deep fried banana (I know, I know! I am shocked too!)
The smell of frangipani, and the sight if hibiscus trees
What I will NOT miss:
Being woken at all hours by the call to prayer
Seeing B2 restaurants (the ones that serve dog)
Mosquitos / Colin the cockroach
The humidity (and resulting frizzy hair!)
Having to keep emergency toilet roll in my bag / pocket
"Sarong, sarong, lady buy sarong"!
Watching where I walk at all times to ensure I don't trip over a random loose slab or down into a storm drain, whilst also trying to eye up purchases
They fry EVERYTHING!
Worrying about the small children and babies you see on scooters
Being surrounded by volcanoes (this may not be an issue in NZ)
Highlights:
The Orang Utan experience (A life experience rather than just a trip highlight)
Climbing my first active volcano
Sunrise at Mt Bromo
Our 3 hour hike through the mountain villages and rice paddies in Java
Seeing the briefest glimpse of a turtle at Lovinia Beach
Our random evening at a night club in Malang
Being surrounded by hundreds of fish when snorkelling at Lovinia
Being at Borobador at sunset
But now it's on to the next adventure..... (And hopefully cheese and wine, oh how I have missed them!)
Terima Kasih Indonesia!
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