Indonesia (10th December to 18th December 2014)

As a pre-curser to the trip, we spent a week in Indonesia catching up with friends and family. We had such a busy period leading up to departure, me finishing up work on the Friday prior to departure, packing up the house, having the house ready for tenants (final tile grouting was completed on the morning we departed the house) and final trip arrangements, we thought it might be a good idea to have a little bit of a wind down period prior to the car arriving and clearing in Malaysia.

A relaxing four days were spent with Pia and Simon in their lovely home in Cemagi, north of Canggu. Bali treated us very well, with beautiful food (Warung Made and Bebek Eropa), massages for Susi and Isabel in Seminyak, lovely walks with the dogs down the beach, dinner watching the sunset on the cliffs of Echo Beach, braids and tattoo’s in Kuta, plenty of pool time and morning healthy juices (they must be good for you). Thanks so much Simon and Pia. We left relaxed and vitalised for the trip ahead.

We flew to Jakarta on the 15^th of December to spend a short three days catching up with family in Bekasi. Susi’s Mum came over from Garut and other family came over to visit during our stay. We will probably be a couple of years returning, so was nice to spend time together. While in Jakarta it was great to catch up with Liz and Con, travelling on their DR 650’s overland from Australia also (www.roostersoverland.com). They have made the full trip, travelling from their homes in Victoria, to Darwin, shipping to East Timor and then riding through Eastern Indonesia, Java and soon to be on their way up to Sumatra. We had a nice day in Batavia and Sunda Kelapa, chatting and checking out the port movements. Saw an incredible site of a mini bus being loaded by an ancient crane onto one of the small ships destined for one of the Indonesian islands. Just a rope net around the front and rear wheels and up she went. The crane stalled with the bus about a metre off the ground, but puffed and wheezed its way lifting the mini bus into position on the boat. Scary site for newcomers, but taken well in the workers stride. Great to meet up Con and Liz and thanks for the tips (the map.me app is awesome). Was also good to get an insight to the sometimes grind of this style of travel, while still being able to take in the joy of new people and ways and maintaining some anticipation in the road ahead.   I left feeling most excited about getting on with the trip. I look forward to following your progress.

After a 3.30am wake up on Thursday the 18^th, we are on our way to Malaysia where the trip proper begins.

Braids on Kuta Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

Braids The Finished Product

Superman

 

 

 

 

 

My Name is Jacky

 

The family at a temple near Echo Beach

Echo Beach Sunset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nasi Campur, Warung Made

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pool time in Cemagi

Drinks in Sanur, Bali

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diary Updates while waiting for flight to Malaysia