Indonesia, Sumatra - Krui

Ahhhhh, Krui. It's the kind of cheap, no name, secluded beach town that you hope stays that way so that you have a secret hide-out in the future where no one can find you after, let's say, I don't know, pulling a successful bank job back home. Don't worry, I'm innocent.

Seriously on the last electrons of power here so this is goodbye for a while. Another week or two before I expect to jack back into the system. Stay close until then. Plenty of stories, misfortunes, weddings, animal sightings, scrapes, bruises, and bicycle part replacements
to tell about - stick around.

Love,
-A

Indonesia, Java - They Say I met Barak Obama

Yup.

If you didn't know, the 44th US president grew up in Jakarta; right where the critical mass gathers every month, coincidently. He spent years at this school where a plaque and statue now stand.

Enjoy this pics I forgot to post before my phone goes completely dead.

-A

Ps. They made him out to look like a dweeb, didn't they?

Indonesia, Java - Two Islands In Two Months; Three In A Third?

"It's not impossible. Nothing is impossible - only improbable," is one of those iconic phrases that is eager to become permanently imprinted onto a young child's mind, ready to be simultaneously pondered over internally and externally requoted with perfect conviction at just those right moments in conversation, despite the disadvantage of misremembering where exactly the phrase was first heard or from whom.

Well it's certainly not impossible. What's more unlikely is the possibility of me now continually adding blog entries, for as we cross the body of water that separates the island of Java from the very large and impressive island of Sumatra (6th largest in the World, about the length of California) I get a text from my Indonesian brother: "Bad news bro. You've left your phone charger."

Dammit. Ok, not the end if the World, though it can easily sometimes feel that way. You know what I mean; when you forget your phone at home, or misplace it, or leave it on a tropical island which happens to be slowly moving away from you, taunting my mistake with slow satisfying enjoyment. Dammit.

So as my last droplets of battery life are consumed, I'll tell you that this next island will be a challenge. Thickly forested with palm trees that block out the sun, narrow partly finished roads, and basically nothing to link the towns together except the physical exertion of riding under an equatorial sun for hours and hours during an accompanying psychological exam of solitude. And the indigenous gorilla units who plunder cargo trucks. At least that's what they tell us.

All that aside, I'm stoked. No, really! Sumatra is supposed to, for all it's underdevelopment, be home to ultimate natural sceneries (and mountains that have been described as "monstrous"). We'll see. We've extended our visas another month to take in as much as we can. But with my phone charger stuck in Jakarta my camera is useless. You'll just have to take my word for things until I wrestle some pics away from Chris and Steve.

Miss you all,
-Andres

Indonesia, Java - The Clandestine Mexican

"You know," I said with a tone that connoted mild seriousness, "you boys made a big mistake letting me in here." He gave me a look but didn't stop to respond right away. We were making our way through a maze of tables in a darkly lit room.

I sat down at a table in the back just as the music began to play, my seat facing the entrance door. "Is that right?" He replied with a half smile that pulled his face slightly to the left, his eyes fixed on all 62 kg of yours truly. "That's right," I said more jokingly now, "you boys are in for a treat, you're going to see something real special...."

And with that, I tucked a cloth napkin into my shirt and got to work.

You see, I've been humoring my hosts and friends with the fact that when I walk down these Indonesian streets with sunglasses on and actively make an effort to not speak, that I integrate with the locals here perfectly without a hint of bulé (outsider, traveler) suspicion. Perhaps I am just a bit too tall but not distractingly so and just the right color and complexion. It's worked to my advantage so far, especially when shopping at traditional markets or simply by not unintentionally inviting taxi a driver's harassment. Sorry Chris.

Likewise, on this very special day, my inconspicuous nature in this foreign land got over on them. The restaurant never saw me coming.

The plan was simple. Show up, ask for the buffet, and do some damage. More so than I would normally do; this lunch food buffet is Mexican style and I've been having serious dreams about tacos, pink rice, and sour cream. Add to that the appetite of a traveling cyclist and they had a trouble they did not, could not, suspect. Like I said, they were going to see something special.

But to make a short story long, let me backtrack just a bit.

None of this was planned. I woke up in the morning not remembering this buffet option. I had researched it before getting to Jakarta a week ago and had completely forgotten about the opportunity. It's only thanks to my host Diah that this bliss happened at all.

"Don't you want to do that Mexican food thing today?"

I smiled and grabbed my bike. "Yes! Today is certainly the last day to do it. I'll walk with you to work and use the Internet to find the restaurant." So we walked and I found it, with no problem. I knew the area for we had been in the same neighborhood just the night before.

I got to the place right on time but when I walked in something was wrong. There were no
people. Either no one liked the food here, or the deal was off. The restaurant was deserted.

Between my spotted Indonesian and the cute waitress' broken English was I able to piece together that I was at the right restaurant but had the wrong branch. The one with the buffet was all the way on the other side of Jakarta and the clock was ticking. Damn. If I left now, I could make the last hour of the all I could eat lunch meal. Worth it? You bet your sweet ass.

Jumped on my bike, hustled uptown under an intimidating heat, and got to the right branch with a little more than an hour to fill my belly with all the food I've been craving. Especially beans which are curiously absent here...

It's a good thing Chris decided not to show up as well. I don't think the Amigos restaurant could have accommodated both of our appetites. Chris typically eats more than I, and I alone polished off two of the five buffet options.

So here's what I ate for my three lunches, essentially all the same servings. Lettuce, tomatoes, beans, carrot strips, broccoli, and collie flower. Mexican rice, steamed veggies, chile con carne, more beans, and a beef chimichanga topped with a red enchilada sauce. Tacos of shredded chicken or beef along with toppings of fresh salsa and guacamole next to a very rare tasting of sour cream. Holy s#*t, good eats!!

And for those of you who know me well, you know I love my apple desserts. Tarts, crumbles, pies, juiced, baked, or candied with red caramel - me love me some of that! Shoot, just a plain ol' Granny-smith will do for dessert in itself.

These happen to be apple empanadas covered in a strawberry reduction. Wow. And all I could eat. It made me question the old adage, "there's always room for dessert." Now I'm not so sure. What I am sure if is that you could not pay me to eat another bite. And on a trip that welcomes frugal opportunities and easy money - that's saying a lot.

It's time for me to crawl out of here. The shows over. The employees are picking their jaws up off the floor and the cooks are catching their breath, brushing the sweat off their brows. Congrats to them. One tip: tight elastic biking shorts was not a good idea; I didn't think this one through. I'm going to go cycle some of this off - stay cool my friends.

Love,
-Andrés

Indonesia, Java - Car Free Day, The "Beach," And A Free Arts Show - Not Bad Jakarta!

Ah yes, I'm loving it here. And I've made it official, Rio is my Indonesian brother from another mother.

Car free day is just that. The main road get shut down and the crowds come ready with everything from bikes to rollerblades. Even a little early morning cumbia work out stage, haha! Good to hear that Latin music again.

We departed for the beach soon after, to relax in the shade. It's not a real beach of course. Well, real in the sense that it exists, fake in the sense that its man made. Still lovely.

And the arts show. Apparently I am very lucky to come this weekend. The visual art portion is composed of all local artists and the band line up is something amazing, especially doing it all for free! Any other time and my pockets would have been broken. I must say that it was out of the ordinary for me to sit down and enjoy a concert on the floor. That's why when PureSaturday, the main band, came on stage, I was all ready to jump up and push in toward the stage in front of the rest of the rising fans. Excellent music, what a great free day to have had.

-A

Ps. Rio, friends, and mom are among the best people on this Earth.