West Java Islands trip

On April 3 to 5, 2011 Team Parre (parkour and freerunning team) invited me to tag along in their excursion. Destination Serang on the West end of Java, this was going to be another low budget backpacking trip.

 Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RETQVfV9wP8
More pictures : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.149518625115824.32498.100001730630761

We left Jakarta by Bus at 22.00 and arrive a few minutes past midnight in our base camp, the shanty port town of Karang Antu (literally translated Ghost Reef) near Serang. The town has gone past its glory days, the river upon which the town live by has gone shallow disabling big fishing boat to leave port for the sea, some boat has gone rotten, leaving only its skeletal formation like ribs of dinosaur's corps, not that there is much to find in the sea, years of gluttonous  fishing have left the corral reef's ecosystem on half-life. Fisherman of Karang Hantu now depends on prayer and the little fish left in the sea and on some lucky days, giving tours to travelers who seeks adventure on its surrounding islands.

We rented a run down wooden fishing boat "dwie putra" written in front of the captains, the captain claims that she can carry up to 50 people on the rough sea. This same boat is going to be our home for the remaining of this trip.

After a night spent in battle against the harbor gang of mosquitoes, we set out to sea early the next day under the gloomy sky, destination Pulau Kubur (Bury island) but caused by the ecosystem imbalance, the inhabited island is now invested with black and white sea urchin all along and around its shallow shore it was a nightmare to swim above these guys with their needle pointing at you ready to inject their fever causing poisons.

Leaving the island our spirits was lifted with the passing of the gray clouds, the sun is up. Destination Pulau Panjang (Long Island) we avoid the fishing village and went to the rear side of the island where the water is clear and coral is left untouched. A fair amount of time was spent snorkeling along its coral cliff the water blue with beautiful sun streaks shinning down in the dept where my lungs couldn't carry me, jumping off of the boats roof in reckless abandon, sun bathing without sun lotion and finally fishing for lunch.

Short break, fill our stomach with rice, noodles and fish. then take a short fulfilling nap on the smooth rocking boat.

With renewed energy we set our bearings to the last island of this trip Pulau Lima(Five Island). (stopped by some island whats its name i forgot) Took down our equipment and start exploring the island, we were going inland exploring along its river but stop doing so when we reach a grave site, the grave looks new and one the tombstone sits a wierd mask sending shivers down our butt hole. sticking to its shore is a good idea. The rest of the afternoon was then spent on its white soft sands polishing somersaults, twist and tricks.

By nightfall we're back in the shanty port town, our plan of spending the night in Pulau Lima was canceled due to the appearance of heavy storm clouds on the Western horizon. Small session of barbeque keeps the atmosphere light only to be disturbed by a hobo schizophrenic, what followed was blissful laughter useless attempts in interpreting the world and words of the madmen which ended in fearful glances when we realize that the He was planning to sleep with us in our rented boat.

The next day with our skin burnt glowing red we pack our bags. Visited an abandon 18th century castle about a mile away from the shanty port town, did some parkour and went on our journey back home.

Knocked out dead tired in the bus no one is able to stay awake until we arrive back in Jakarta.

Thanks to Parre team, Putra, Alan, Qori, Ojon and with special gratitude to the guy who planned the whole trip Mamat. This has been an awesome trip.

Busy Hands

Hmmnn now thats done, time to get a real job :)

Soak It All In

Lately I have become more and more comfortable with silence. What use to be an awkward feeling, is now replaced with moments of contemplative surrender. To the small sounds and little movements of whatever is around, coming in with her pleasing rhythm. Am I getting old too fast, or am I just lonely? Or maybe its just this place and the fact that soon it will no longer be here, in front of me.

2010: What We've (to) Learn

Who Cares?

Earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption

And still they go on with their corruption

Hot gas and thick ash, the death toll's rising

Those ares and evil deuce, never caring

Refugee center's filled with sorrows to bear.

The nation's grief, they do not care.

The victims are dying on the hospital bed

And in bliss they watched tennis instead

There are those who still care though,
Them underpaid volunteers, doctors and soldiers

Who works hard even with a pay so low

Feeding, curing, caring, lifting wounded shoulders

Searching the ash covered village, 

Looking for a body to tow

Obama came too , making the front page

With big speech and an even bigger smilo

Aside from those, there were others too who care

Children, students, punks, traceurs and queers

Though we might not be able to do anything there

We can do something here
Donate

And so with our heart we sing, flip, and beg for money

these money we save, these money to save.

Aside from us, there are others too who care

Perhaps its you.

Pray for Indonesia

On October 31, 2010 groups of youth from every urban subculture join hands under the banner "From Bandung With Love" to express their art and help donate for the tsunami and volcano victim,  

 $672 and hundreds of prayers was raised from the event.

*thanks to Faisal Akbar for the pictures

Rhythm: Dazed

Dazed
Jakarta  0600hrs, Monday May 31 2010 

The alarm buzz, my head felt drowsy, my hand's searching for a button, snoozing it ten times over.
Its been 3 hours since I lay down, and 4 hours since I arrive in my lil' room.

After another hour of lying hopelessly unable to sleep, i got up and went back to the routine a hundred times repeated. Shower, breakfast, catching the bus, office work.
Complaining and little jokes here and there, telling the stories about the 2nd elimination race to some office mate, more work, just another day.

...it was only after lunch when I'm all out of work, and the data for the next report haven't arrive yet.

"WOAH!!! I'M GOING TO THE MIDDLE EAST!!"

I couldn't believe it, the little amount of sleep, the fatigue unrecoverable, the sand dudes on the poster's background, all those things swirling in my head impairing my judgment of what is real. Grab the phone and sent a quick sms to creez to see if I'm not dreaming. Its real, she congratulate me and give some motherly advice.

We'd (Team Ironmen) came in 6th in that race, but since we waited for more than 20 minutes for the rafting boat to arrive, the time was deducted from our overall time, bringing our rank all the way to the 4th place as finalist.

The week followed quickly, with all the registration, preparation shopping, paper work, short interview, international driver license making, plus the pleading for a unpaid-leave vacation from the office.

Thank God this is real, thank God for this opportunity.