Jakarta Tales Vol 8: Time or memories?
It’s been a long time coming. But here it is. A less longer – note, I didn’t say short – volume of Jakarta Tales. Number 8, right? Whoa, has it really been that long or is my memory giving me a hard time?
Anyways, lots has happened and hasn’t since I wrote Vol 6 and 7. I guess I covered my Surabaya trip there. And since there’s just too much to cover and I don’t want to be browbeaten by you, I’ll encapsulate all as briefly as I can.
Malang was great. It’s my favourite city in Indonesia. Green, clean, hilly, chilly, colonial leftovers, fresh, populated and polluted less (I was just trying to rhyme). I stayed at my boss’s house (he is plain and simple rich, I don’t think filthy or stinking does enough justice) and his family and dogs were really warm and friendly. In fact, I can almost say the only straw missing on this Indonesian saga of mine was a family I could call my own and I found it in my boss’s kin in Malang.
To top it all, the AIESEC in Univeristas Brawijaya reception was beyond my wildest expectations. I can now officially challenge Prince William for the throne considering the royal treatment I received from the AIESEC members. And that’s when the most important fact about AIESEC and life in general dawned on me – don’t give people just your time, but memories. It also made me question if I did justice to my stint in AIESEC. For how many trainees did I personally ensure a memorable experience, a life changing one?
I don’t want you to peek in there. If I start, I won’t stop. So let’s move on.
One of the most surreal and beautiful experiences of my life was my trip to Carita and Mt Krakatao. 10 of us from 6 different countries, loads of fun, unimaginable miracles of nature, one lifetime experience. Carita is a lovely little beach on the west coast of Java. We stayed over on the beach for a day and night there but only to embark on our quest to see and climb the legendary Mount Krakatao (Krakatoa in many books).
At 4am, we set out in a speedboat towards the iconic volcano. Why a speedboat? Because it’s right in the middle of the bloody Sunda Sea! Yes! That’s what’s insane yet charming about it. Our hopes of singing “In the moooorning, in the moooorning, in the mooorning by the sea” vanished as soon as they came when we realized it was going to be one bumpy ride considering the early morning tide. Trust me, those life jackets we wore and the supports we clung on to during the 4-hour journey was our lives we were hanging on to. We almost met St Peter when 2-hours into the trip, one of the dual engines ran out of gas and we had to stop in the middle of nowhere to refuel. Nothing to panic, it’s normal. But not when the boat is tossing 130 degrees from side to side!
The sun rose sometime later and the ensuing splash of orange formed a partially spectacular sky, thanks to the clouds who were more than happy playing spoilsport.
Honestly, it wasn’t a journey we were enjoying. It was evident. We’d been at sea for 3 hours, we hadn’t even seen a glimpse of the mountain, the sea was at its furious best, and you don’t really feel welcome about going to Krakatao if you know the stories surrounding it.
First, it’s one of the 3 most dangerous and active volcanoes on this planet along with Mt Fiji and Mt Vesuvius. Secondly, the 1883 episode gives you the goosebumps like The Ring. Why? All of it and the rest of the Krakatao saga in my next post – Vol 8 (continued) -- which is going to come tomorrow. That's a promise. No more waiting.
And btw, for all those who I haven’t spoken to since last year, happy new year. Considering it’s less than a week to go for Chinese New Year – Xin nian kai le! How did I know this? More on that too, in my next volume.
Cheers
From your favourite Indian volcano explorer in Indonesia
Yousuf
Anyways, lots has happened and hasn’t since I wrote Vol 6 and 7. I guess I covered my Surabaya trip there. And since there’s just too much to cover and I don’t want to be browbeaten by you, I’ll encapsulate all as briefly as I can.
Malang was great. It’s my favourite city in Indonesia. Green, clean, hilly, chilly, colonial leftovers, fresh, populated and polluted less (I was just trying to rhyme). I stayed at my boss’s house (he is plain and simple rich, I don’t think filthy or stinking does enough justice) and his family and dogs were really warm and friendly. In fact, I can almost say the only straw missing on this Indonesian saga of mine was a family I could call my own and I found it in my boss’s kin in Malang.
To top it all, the AIESEC in Univeristas Brawijaya reception was beyond my wildest expectations. I can now officially challenge Prince William for the throne considering the royal treatment I received from the AIESEC members. And that’s when the most important fact about AIESEC and life in general dawned on me – don’t give people just your time, but memories. It also made me question if I did justice to my stint in AIESEC. For how many trainees did I personally ensure a memorable experience, a life changing one?
I don’t want you to peek in there. If I start, I won’t stop. So let’s move on.
One of the most surreal and beautiful experiences of my life was my trip to Carita and Mt Krakatao. 10 of us from 6 different countries, loads of fun, unimaginable miracles of nature, one lifetime experience. Carita is a lovely little beach on the west coast of Java. We stayed over on the beach for a day and night there but only to embark on our quest to see and climb the legendary Mount Krakatao (Krakatoa in many books).
At 4am, we set out in a speedboat towards the iconic volcano. Why a speedboat? Because it’s right in the middle of the bloody Sunda Sea! Yes! That’s what’s insane yet charming about it. Our hopes of singing “In the moooorning, in the moooorning, in the mooorning by the sea” vanished as soon as they came when we realized it was going to be one bumpy ride considering the early morning tide. Trust me, those life jackets we wore and the supports we clung on to during the 4-hour journey was our lives we were hanging on to. We almost met St Peter when 2-hours into the trip, one of the dual engines ran out of gas and we had to stop in the middle of nowhere to refuel. Nothing to panic, it’s normal. But not when the boat is tossing 130 degrees from side to side!
The sun rose sometime later and the ensuing splash of orange formed a partially spectacular sky, thanks to the clouds who were more than happy playing spoilsport.
Honestly, it wasn’t a journey we were enjoying. It was evident. We’d been at sea for 3 hours, we hadn’t even seen a glimpse of the mountain, the sea was at its furious best, and you don’t really feel welcome about going to Krakatao if you know the stories surrounding it.
First, it’s one of the 3 most dangerous and active volcanoes on this planet along with Mt Fiji and Mt Vesuvius. Secondly, the 1883 episode gives you the goosebumps like The Ring. Why? All of it and the rest of the Krakatao saga in my next post – Vol 8 (continued) -- which is going to come tomorrow. That's a promise. No more waiting.
And btw, for all those who I haven’t spoken to since last year, happy new year. Considering it’s less than a week to go for Chinese New Year – Xin nian kai le! How did I know this? More on that too, in my next volume.
Cheers
From your favourite Indian volcano explorer in Indonesia
Yousuf
