A traveler once again

After several weeks traveling through progressively more modern countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore), we were growing more accustomed to the modern infrastructure and ease of travel...however I was almost growing a bit too complacent. Then we landed in Jakarta, the heart of the world's fourth most populous country (an archipelago of over 17,000 islands...of which we are getting the quickest glimpse of Java, the country's political and economic center) thrown into the chaotic, traffic choked, polluted capital. It is the first country we've encountered that could give India a run for its money...and brought back a flood of memories from the beginning of this adventure. A snapshot of humanity everywhere you look. Transactions taking place on the sidewalks, makeshift foodstalls sizzling with savory treats, a seething writhing jumble of buses, cars, and motos transporting an incomprehensible number of people. And the people are delightful and incredibly playful. Shouts of 'hello, mister!' erupt in our wake...the catalyst for a round of smiles and greetings. Two buses of school children appeared as if they would tip the buses over as we were spotted and all the children swarmed the nearest set of windows shouting out greetings. Our waves were met with excited squeals and giggles...and I found myself flashing back to countless such moments in India.

Indonesia, in just a few short days, has me feeling more like a traveler again, and a bit less like a tourist. Showing up to the bus station, we were swarmed by 10 guys shouting destinations and attempting to coax us to their respective buses. As we board the economy bus, there is a twitter among the already seated passengers as necks crane to see what we are doing on THAT bus. Slow and creaking, the bus fights its way through the cramped roadway, announcing its presence with the horn blaring relentlessly. Young buskers hop on and off the bus performing a few catchy tunes on beat up guitars and bongo drums. Beautiful young unrefined voices fill the cavernous interior of these big metal buses before the youngsters pass their hat around and look for their next audience. Hawkers ply the aisle with every imaginable snack that you could never possibly go hungry. There is so much activity taking place everywhere you look and walk that it is exhausting trying to take it all in and process it...but I continue to try to absorb it all none-the-less and feed off the energy.

And all the while the reliable soundtrack is the muezzin's call to prayer blasting from tinny speakers in every neighborhood. As we hopped off the train the other day, the call to prayer echoed around the nearly empty station, a reminder of where we were. Majestic mosque domes grace the city skyline of Indonesia's cities, as it boasts the worlds largest Muslim population.

Yet, despite this, shopping is king here with countless shopping malls and markets everywhere you turn. From glitzy malls in the big cities to dark, crowded markets with the contents of the shops spilling out of the tiny stalls they are crammed into in nearly every town, there is a shopping opportunity around every corner. Seeing as though I am not at all a shopper, I just soak up all the excitement of the hustle and bustle of the markets and cramped shopping zones.

Unfortunately, we had little concept of what an incredibly diverse country Indonesia is...and don't have nearly enough time to explore it as much as we would like. There is always next time...