Selamat datang di Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia
Welcome to Indonesia!
I begin my journey in Jakarta, the capital city and “headquarters” of the Fulbright program in Indonesia. The flight from New York to Indonesia was one of the longest I have had since the military, a little over a day.
One of the best words I can think of using when describing Jakarta is busy. This may be a theme for cities in general but Jakarta has it’s own unique flavor. The streets are bustling with people, warungs (small food stalls), and the most motorbikes I have seen in my entire life.
Strolling around central Jakarta, the air is warm and humid (reminding me a little bit of home in Miami), with a dash of occasional aromas of street cuisine like nasi goreng (friend rice), sate (meat on a stick) and ikan bakar (grilled fish).
After several bouts of delicious spicy food, plenty of fresh fruit juices, my Fulbright orientation, and a broken-then-fixed Macbook… I was ready for my next destination, Palangkaraya (PKY) in Central Kalimantan/Borneo, which is the closest city to Tuanan Orangtan Research Station (TORS).
Palangkaraya memory list:
More fresh juices
Delicious Bebek Bakar (Fried Duck)
A memorable lunar eclipse
The gorgeous “suli” ginger flower
Torrential rain showers
So many cats!
My favorite flower, hibiscus, growing beside the research house
Intricate Dayak Art
A lengthy search for black beans
My first journey on boat traveling along the river
