Orang Project
Our journey started ridiculously early one morning in Kurashiki.
A walk led to a train. Another walk led to an extremely fast train. Yet another train, and soon we were at Kansai airport; ready to board a plane and rock and roll out of Japan.
It would take 2 more planes (both with wonderful 'rush' seating), waiting at 3 more airports, 2 airport shuttle/taxi rides, a night at the terminal hotel in Jakarta airport, and finally a 3+ hour ride down dodgy roads before we reached our destination: The Orangutan Health Project.
These were our modest, but adequate digs for part of the next 2 weeks. No running water. Squat toilets. Cold bucket showers. Spotty electricity with blackouts referred to in Indonesian (with a detectable hint of affection) as mati lampu. With cockroaches, rats, chirping geckos, and the occasional toad stopping by.
The buildings were perched over fish ponds and surrounded by rice fields. Our neighbours were regular families engaged in farming and raising fish. Sounds of an early morning and frequent daytime rooster crowing, lambs amid the rice fields bleating, and cicadas singing at night. It was a great spot. Smack in the middle of real life in Sumatra.
The first couple of days were mostly spent settling in to our new surroundings. I quickly discovered this spot...
...and found some much needed relaxation accompanied by a book.
We also explored some of the local area; getting supplies in the nearby towns of Bukit Lawang and Bohorok. A major hightlight of these outings was the transportation itself. Collective style buses with everyone grabbing a ride on the back, on the roof...wherever there was room. I love traveling like this!
One thing that took no time settling into was the food provided for us. We were truly pampered. Batwa, a local woman, arrived every morning to prepare our lunch and dinner which she would leave for us. We were treated to proper, delicious, Indonesian home cooking. All vegetarian fare featuring spicy curries, tempeh done in various ways, spring rolls, omelettes, peanut dishes, and rice. After a year in the vegetarian wasteland that is Japan, I thought I may have stumbled on to heaven.
Time to introduce our 'fellow travelers'.
First, the volunteers:
Richard
Michele
Caroline
Matt
Bob
Anne
My beloved Miss Yaki
Some guy we found by the side of the road
Our fearless leaders, Andrea and Clare
Our local guides and friends:
Mbra
Wanda
Romi
A walk led to a train. Another walk led to an extremely fast train. Yet another train, and soon we were at Kansai airport; ready to board a plane and rock and roll out of Japan.
It would take 2 more planes (both with wonderful 'rush' seating), waiting at 3 more airports, 2 airport shuttle/taxi rides, a night at the terminal hotel in Jakarta airport, and finally a 3+ hour ride down dodgy roads before we reached our destination: The Orangutan Health Project.
These were our modest, but adequate digs for part of the next 2 weeks. No running water. Squat toilets. Cold bucket showers. Spotty electricity with blackouts referred to in Indonesian (with a detectable hint of affection) as mati lampu. With cockroaches, rats, chirping geckos, and the occasional toad stopping by.
The buildings were perched over fish ponds and surrounded by rice fields. Our neighbours were regular families engaged in farming and raising fish. Sounds of an early morning and frequent daytime rooster crowing, lambs amid the rice fields bleating, and cicadas singing at night. It was a great spot. Smack in the middle of real life in Sumatra.
The first couple of days were mostly spent settling in to our new surroundings. I quickly discovered this spot...
...and found some much needed relaxation accompanied by a book.
We also explored some of the local area; getting supplies in the nearby towns of Bukit Lawang and Bohorok. A major hightlight of these outings was the transportation itself. Collective style buses with everyone grabbing a ride on the back, on the roof...wherever there was room. I love traveling like this!
One thing that took no time settling into was the food provided for us. We were truly pampered. Batwa, a local woman, arrived every morning to prepare our lunch and dinner which she would leave for us. We were treated to proper, delicious, Indonesian home cooking. All vegetarian fare featuring spicy curries, tempeh done in various ways, spring rolls, omelettes, peanut dishes, and rice. After a year in the vegetarian wasteland that is Japan, I thought I may have stumbled on to heaven.
Time to introduce our 'fellow travelers'.
First, the volunteers:
Richard
Michele
Caroline
Matt
Bob
Anne
My beloved Miss Yaki
Some guy we found by the side of the road
Our fearless leaders, Andrea and Clare
Our local guides and friends:
Mbra
Wanda
Romi
posted by Christopher S. @ 11:43 PM
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