... What about the heat, eh?

This was originally posted on October 16, 2008.



Plans to buy a used car are put off; I told mom there simply wasn't enough time to look for a decent vehicle. And how are we supposed to come up with several million Rupiahs? Talking about millions: every day I leave the house with - literally - a bulging wallet. 100 Euros (or $100 for that matter) equals about 1.6 million Indonesian Rupiahs... I have to admit that it feels weird being an overnight millionaire.


Time and cost efficiency are things that Indonesians are NOT familiar with. At least not the majority, who has never been outside the country to study or work. Don't get me wrong: people are very friendly and accommodating, but things take time here. A lot of time. I am also very aware that a lot of things are being said out of politeness - not because it can actually be done. In fact, a lot of things are unsaid. Mom and I occassionally have arguments, but we talk about things, and I don't respect my mother any less. Over here everything is defined by hierarchy. Indonesians have different ways of addressing others who are older and younger than oneself... It's hard to explain, but let's just say that it's more than simply addressing an aunt by calling her "aunt" or calling an uncle "uncle". Indonesians who are not familiar with other cultures think I'm rude and offensive. Whatever. My horrible accent gives me away.

My favorite aunt, Yani, calls in a favor from a friend, who drives mom and I to Cangar (hot springs). The water is said to be beneficial to people with skin problems. Needless to say I went in Talking about skin: while winters mess with mine, the heat is obviously working its wonders. The little eczema I arrived with is completely gone after a week or so in this country.

Mom and I arranged a ride to Surabaya to visit an old friend of the family. He gladly showed us the city in half a day. I forgot to ask where the French Cultural Center is, so I know later this month where to go to catch a couple of queer flicks. Oh well...

Another old friend of the family offers us a ride to Jogjakarta, so we can visit the Prambanan and Borobudur. On the day mom and I walk up to the gigantic monument mercury has risen to almost 100F. Mom and I agree she waits for me on a little stone bench under the shade of a tree, while I climb the Borobudur. She later told me I love walking from the moment I was able to do so (I skipped crawling altogether) and that I've walked this structure at age 6 (the first time I visited Indonesia). Looks like some things never change
I take in the beauty, and by the time I return to the spot I left my mom all my clothes stick to my body. I feel yucky, and would kill for a cool shower. There's an older (Caucasian) lady on the other end of the stone bench, and I ask her in English why she isn't up there. She replies she speaks little English, and hearing a French accent I repeat my question en Français. She's pleasantly surprised I can actually speak the language (albeit a little rusty at best). When it turned out she's not from Canada nor France but Belgium - to which I replied: "Je suis Hollandais" - we finally switched to Dutch. Heh heh... Anyhoo, the Walloon woman was suffering from the heat as well. She was visiting Indonesia with a group and showed me their itinerary: I got tired just looking at it - it was packed from early early morning till way after dinner. For almost three weeks. I can hardly call that a vacation. That's a work out!