Lady friends, visa's and a banana split
Day 19
Start – Best western, Jakarta Finish - Team 1 - Aryaduta hotel, Jakarta Finish - Team 2 - Random roadside hotel Distance - Not far and a bit further Words by - Swells |
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The assault on the breakfast buffet was somewhat subdued this morning, and after only 3 courses I was full. My lady friend who arrived last night was full of adventure spirit and over breakfast we made plans to hit the coast – our combined adventure appetite was at maximum capacity levels. After both having spent too much time working away from each other, both becoming ingrained in a regular work routine, it was the magical embrace of the adventure gods whose hold could set our imprisoned minds free.
Leaving the best western we split up – Dan and Luke where on their way to the Myanmar embassy to collect our visa’s while Katie and I would head out of Jakarta via a helmet shop.
The helmet laws in Indonesia seem to have an elusive enforcement practice, so I thought Katie could wear our one helmet until we found a helmet shop. The normal rule being that the rider is required to wear a helmet, and any passengers are not. Leaving the best western the friendly gate man waved his arms and pointed at his head then at mine, I gave him the old thumbs up pretending to misinterpret his message and we rolled out. Joining the endless stream of traffic with Katie as a passenger was something that made me slightly nervous. Yesterday I practiced in the traffic with Luke on the back, but now my plan of falling on someone soft was unavailable. Unsure of how Katie would reacted to the traffic I eased into the flow, at first acting as a car, with only relaxed excitement evident, it was soon we became one with the flow of scooters as we slipped around the cars. After 10 or so K’s in no particular direction we had arrived at a bike shop which sold helmets. $35 later we were now above and beyond the requirements of the law, with my new helmet even displaying a crooked DOT certified sticker we were ready to hit the road. A phone call at this point changed our destination. It was our man from the Myanmar embassy who explained that the visa was not going to be ready today. Unable to phone Luke the Chief logistical officer, Katie and I saddled up for the ride back towards the Myanmar embassy.
Meeting Luke and Dan in the small waiting room plans where once again being moulded due to uncontrollable external influences. With the disappointment threatening to get the best of the team, it was with a cool hand that Luke negotiated through the language barrier new terms for our visa. We could return early next week to hopefully make the pickup.
The Myanmar embassy is located in the heart of Jakarta in a clearly affluent area alongside embassies from across the world. With paved footpaths either side of a wide concrete road these beautiful tree lined streets still possess the charm of the relaxed Indonesian style. Where trees roots have won the battle against their concrete suppressors and busted on through to the surface there is no pink paint, no sign placed to alert a potential trip victim, only the victorious root and its crushed adversary remain - adding character to what would otherwise be a stuffy area.
The Indonesia plaza shows up on Dan’s GPS as a close by shopping centre which can suffice multiple team requirements, Wi-Fi, food and a laptop charger. There has been daunting sights on the trip so far but the plaza takes the cake, riding down an extremely small road crowed with people and scooters I am unsure if I’m in the right place, there are hundreds if not thousands of scooters neatly crammed into any available space alongside the road, small market style stores fill the remaining spaces filling the air with a rich aroma of unknown tastes. A hundred or so meters of this and I’m convinced that I’m riding through what must be the plaza – Then to the left a more familiar sight, a massive concrete building reveals himself, dressed in massive colourful advertisements for the world’s most prestigious wanky brands. Not wanting to leave the bikes outside we attempt to follow a car into the complex, immediately waved down by a dozen security personnel who are performing bomb checks on cars - we pulled over to the side of the drive way for a team meeting. With the whites of our eyes showing, not much was said, it was a mutual agreement that this place was not for us. GPS was set for Cisolok and we rolled out.
After 2 hours of battling within the tide of traffic running out of Jakarta Katie and I pulled into a McDonalds to be reunited with the team after having lost them in the current of traffic. With the approaching night time darkness exaggerated by storm clouds rolling around in the setting sun. Katie and I decided to spend our limited time together in the comfort of an old hotel we found back in Jakarta’s heart.
So at this point Twenty One Horses split up – Luke and Dan headed out into the night to battle with a potential monsoonal rainstorm while Katie and I aimed our ship for the calm waters the other direction.
In the slower pace of the traffic into the city we were able to chat to each other, pointing out things which mystified us and made us laugh, it was a pleasant fun ride on our adventure to find the Aryaduta hotel
Leaving the best western we split up – Dan and Luke where on their way to the Myanmar embassy to collect our visa’s while Katie and I would head out of Jakarta via a helmet shop.
The helmet laws in Indonesia seem to have an elusive enforcement practice, so I thought Katie could wear our one helmet until we found a helmet shop. The normal rule being that the rider is required to wear a helmet, and any passengers are not. Leaving the best western the friendly gate man waved his arms and pointed at his head then at mine, I gave him the old thumbs up pretending to misinterpret his message and we rolled out. Joining the endless stream of traffic with Katie as a passenger was something that made me slightly nervous. Yesterday I practiced in the traffic with Luke on the back, but now my plan of falling on someone soft was unavailable. Unsure of how Katie would reacted to the traffic I eased into the flow, at first acting as a car, with only relaxed excitement evident, it was soon we became one with the flow of scooters as we slipped around the cars. After 10 or so K’s in no particular direction we had arrived at a bike shop which sold helmets. $35 later we were now above and beyond the requirements of the law, with my new helmet even displaying a crooked DOT certified sticker we were ready to hit the road. A phone call at this point changed our destination. It was our man from the Myanmar embassy who explained that the visa was not going to be ready today. Unable to phone Luke the Chief logistical officer, Katie and I saddled up for the ride back towards the Myanmar embassy.
Meeting Luke and Dan in the small waiting room plans where once again being moulded due to uncontrollable external influences. With the disappointment threatening to get the best of the team, it was with a cool hand that Luke negotiated through the language barrier new terms for our visa. We could return early next week to hopefully make the pickup.
The Myanmar embassy is located in the heart of Jakarta in a clearly affluent area alongside embassies from across the world. With paved footpaths either side of a wide concrete road these beautiful tree lined streets still possess the charm of the relaxed Indonesian style. Where trees roots have won the battle against their concrete suppressors and busted on through to the surface there is no pink paint, no sign placed to alert a potential trip victim, only the victorious root and its crushed adversary remain - adding character to what would otherwise be a stuffy area.
The Indonesia plaza shows up on Dan’s GPS as a close by shopping centre which can suffice multiple team requirements, Wi-Fi, food and a laptop charger. There has been daunting sights on the trip so far but the plaza takes the cake, riding down an extremely small road crowed with people and scooters I am unsure if I’m in the right place, there are hundreds if not thousands of scooters neatly crammed into any available space alongside the road, small market style stores fill the remaining spaces filling the air with a rich aroma of unknown tastes. A hundred or so meters of this and I’m convinced that I’m riding through what must be the plaza – Then to the left a more familiar sight, a massive concrete building reveals himself, dressed in massive colourful advertisements for the world’s most prestigious wanky brands. Not wanting to leave the bikes outside we attempt to follow a car into the complex, immediately waved down by a dozen security personnel who are performing bomb checks on cars - we pulled over to the side of the drive way for a team meeting. With the whites of our eyes showing, not much was said, it was a mutual agreement that this place was not for us. GPS was set for Cisolok and we rolled out.
After 2 hours of battling within the tide of traffic running out of Jakarta Katie and I pulled into a McDonalds to be reunited with the team after having lost them in the current of traffic. With the approaching night time darkness exaggerated by storm clouds rolling around in the setting sun. Katie and I decided to spend our limited time together in the comfort of an old hotel we found back in Jakarta’s heart.
So at this point Twenty One Horses split up – Luke and Dan headed out into the night to battle with a potential monsoonal rainstorm while Katie and I aimed our ship for the calm waters the other direction.
In the slower pace of the traffic into the city we were able to chat to each other, pointing out things which mystified us and made us laugh, it was a pleasant fun ride on our adventure to find the Aryaduta hotel
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