Review:aldocomet
I've just read the Lonely Planet: Indonesia I found at the motel's cafe. There are some articles that make me admire the writers. This book was written by some foreigners. I don't know how many times they spent in this country to write this book, but I know they know Indonesia much better than me.
I've been living here since I was born 24 years ago, that's mean I should to know most about my own country, but by reading this book, I know that I know nothing about my own country.
One opening article I like the most is about Top 10 Experiences when you spent your time in this country. For me, all the experiences look so simple, just like the way it should be happened. I don't realize how special that experiences in their eyes..
1. A beaming Indonesian smile-locals here are unfailingly happy and warm.
Well, this is I have to proud of my country. I'd been living in different places during these 24 years. From the entire place, I know how they are threat tourist. In some tourism area, they threat them as a King or Queen; they are trying to catch the tourist's eye about tourism potential at their area. They have to leave a good impression about their assets.
Besides of that, I know that Indonesian is very helpful people. We realize that we are not living in private area, we have neighbors, we have relatives, and usually Indonesian have a big family that cannot be ignored just for a while.
So, when we see a tourist among us, automatically, our lips will expand to show them our best smile.... :)
2. Spontaneous guitar-strumming sessions on street corners, warung, Pelni boats...
I will refer this to all minstrels (street musician) spread in all area of this country. We call them as 'Pengamen'. Usually they will be shown at warung (small restaurant) and traffic lights. Usually they're using a guitar or a small tambourine or just bunch of coins. But if you're lucky, you can meet some groups of street orchestra or maybe a talented Pengamen over the hundreds (thousands I thought) Pengamen like Aris, a train's Pengamen from bandung who became a winner of Indonesian Idol 2008. If you feel annoyed of their performance, just wave your hand or just give them some money and [usually] they will be gone. But if you like their performance, you can give them some extra money.
Usually people will be give Rp. 100-500,- if they hate their performance and Rp. 500-more if they love their performance.
3. Dancing poco-poco (Indonesian line dancing) at Maluku village disco.
Poco-poco is a line dancing like the dance in the lower class dancing shown in Titanic movie starring by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Sometimes they're using live music performance or just recorded music from CD or cassette (don't be surprised, we're still using cassette here). It usually held in wedding party or else. Poco-poco is a group dancing, so it will be great to see all the people in that group dance it fit one with others.
4. Taking your becak (bicycle-rickshaw) driver for a ride instead of the other way around
Becak is a traditional transport. It's a modified bicycle so the driver could transport more than 1 passengers, it could be 2 or more, depends on the negotiation. You can found a lot of becaks in Yogyakarta, Central Java. Usually, they will offer you a cheap trip using their Becak, but you will be delivered to some souvenir shops besides your original destination, because the will get some earnings from the shop because of delivering you there. But you can avoid theirs offers courtly if you don't like the idea.
5. Sharing your rambutans (a fruit like peach) and rupiah during impromptu card games on overnight ferries
Most of Indonesian areas are covered by water, so there will a plenty water transportations here including ferries. Like the ferries transportation from Bali-Lombok, it could be reached by ferries by 4-5 hours. It's open transportation for 24 hours. If you take a night ferry, there will be a numbers of truck/bus drivers. Usually they will play a little gambling card games to killing the time. If you're interested you can join in with them. It's a small gambling. They will use some little money to play or some food/fruits as the bet.
There are 5 other experiences I will share later to you..
Lonely Planet: Indonesia Originally published in Shvoong: http://www.shvoong.com/travel/destination/2013538-lonely-planet-indonesia/
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