Padang - Bungus beach

Hujan lagi...

The surf course is now over. The last too days of the course I spent trying to catch bigger waves with mediocre success. We finished the course off by having one last lunch together, after witch our teacher flew back to Kuala Lumpur and we headed back to our hostel. The course was unforgettable, but really exhausting. The rest of the day we nibbled on chips and candies and watched surf-movies.

I invested in my own rashie and a leash so that in case I find a beach with good waves I can just rent a board and enjoy the surf. We decided that currently for me the best kind of a board is mini-mal, meaning a short (7'2 - 8') malibu board with rounded nose and tail.

Padang is a nice city, but there isn't too much to do there. So on Sunday morning we took a taxi that drove us 30 kilometers south to Bungus beach, a small fisher town that is located between a busy road and beautiful beach.

View from my room

We were planning on catching a boat and going to hang out on a deserted island for a couple of days, but it's been raining the past two days so it seems that the plan must be canceled. As my flight to Ambon jets off in two days, I'm practically forced to hang out here and wait for the plain. If the sun decides to show itself I'm interested in driving to the nearby waterfalls and to check out a living bridge that's made out of roots and vines.

View at night

That's about it. Living here costs 60 000 per night, in a small basic room with mandi and a small toilet. The terrace is facing the beach but the road behind makes enjoying the idyllic view a bit more challenging. A meal comes with about 20 000, so one day of doing nothing costs maybe 10 euros.

More from Ambon.
-me

Local kids enjoying the nearby waterfall

More kids (showing off)

Surrounding rice-fields

Padang

Ombak besar!

Padang! A city devastated by a 7,6 magnitude earthquake in 2009, is actually a really beautiful place. Most of the buildings that collapsed have been restored, and people here seem quite wealthy (at least when compared to the rest of Indonesia). Streets are filled with warungs that serve delicious food and traffic jams seem non-existent.

Here I've done nothing else but surfed.

I arrived here from Bukit Tinggi on Tuesday noon. After some hazzle we agreed with my surf guide Simon from Malaysia that we'd meet in a hotel located in the center of the city. Simon indeed came over and I hopped (along side with two Finns who came from Lake Toba) to his van, which left us in a cozy hostel some kilometers from the centre.

The first night (which was not included in the surf course prise, but Simon immediately offered us accomodation) we dined together and went to bed early. The next morning (Wednesday) we woke up at six, had a quick breakfast of tea and lontong and drove to the Air Manis beach. And then we started to go through the basics of how to stands over water with a flat canoe.

Me with a mini-surfer

We were armed with rashies (spandex long sleeved shirts), huge soft orange practice-boards and leashes that attached us to the boards. The lessons started with stretching and going through the paddling and arching techniques. After maybe ten minutes of theory we headed to the sea.

Air Manis is a sand bottomed beach that opens to the direction of Indian Ocean. In the distance there are the Mentawai-islands that break down the waves, so the beach is perfect for longboarders and beginner surfers. The waves are quite constant 4-footers that only flat out during the hottest hours, between noon and about four o'clock. We surf from about seven to seven, having a four hour lunch and nap-break in the middle.

Air Manis (Sweet Water)

The four-day course offered by Blue Forest Surf has been just amazing. Simon is a talented and devoted surfer, who flies here from Malaysia just to surf and teach. His constantly giving us advice, but also lets us choose our own waves and motivates us to try harder. The course includes accommodation, food (eating out in nice local joints), rides to the beach and back and all the gear needed for surfing. The surf itself is physically hard but mentally really rewarding.

Local surfers posing

Another pose

It's almost four o'clock, so we got to head back to the beach. I've got a few good green waves so far and even held a wave once while riding it. The feeling was amazing, and I can't wait to learn more.

In the words of all knowing Simon; Chill out bros, this is all about fun!

-Me

Lari gliding to the shore

Our class members (Lauri, Lari and Laura)

Victory shout

Local red hot chili peppers

Pictures (c) Simon


Näytä Travelling in 2011 suuremmalla kartalla

Bukit Tinggi - Gunung Merapi

The hike was great!

We walked 22 kilometers in less than 12 hours, with a 2 km rise. The trail was good and the burning sun was concealed behind thick jungle. At firs the climb seemed easy, and I avoided touching anything so that my hands would have stayed clean. A ridiculous thought. After climbing three hours I reached for any branches, trees and monkey tails not to fall down.

My guide Moly, who I found hanging out in my Orchid hotel, was a 48 year old tiny man who looked like he was 25. He was really helpful, spoke (and taught) fluent English and had climbed mount Merapi more than hundred times during the past 35 years.

Photos, as promised:

Destination

Moly finding the way

A cave carved by rain water and covered by plants

Mountain conquered

View!

The crater

More view

2,968 m

Me too close to the crater

Chillies at the bottom of the mountain

Bukit Tinggi

Bukit tinggi - high mountain


I'm here!! We're about 950 meters from sea level, and the temperature is just perfect 25 celcius. The combination of boat - wait for the bus - bus took about 22 hours. The bus trip was 16h, with the driver driving insanely fast on the tiniest of roads. Somehow everything still worked out and no-one got hurt. We stopped to pray at 04:00 and had breakfast at 08:00. Again people we're asking a lot of questions, ending the query-spree each time with a "thankyousoverymuch".  I've got to learn Bahasa Indonesia better though, people seem to be quite good at asking questions but lack somewhat in the area of understanding the response.

I was supposed to hike to the Gunung Merapi volcano this night, but it's raining. Gunung is the most active volcano on Sumatra, but no worries, it hasn't done much more than puffed smoke in a while. So due to the rain we're skipping the sunrise at 2891 meters and try again in the morning at 05:00. The trek takes a bit less than 12 hours, and we're doing it together with my guide Moli. The trek costs 400 000 rupiahs, meaning around 33 euros. It would be cheaper if done with two people, each paying 250 000, but there seem to be no turists here I must go alone.

I'm going through a huge spending spree! First the trek, then on Wednesday I have a four day all inclusive surf course close to the city of Padang and I just bought flights to Ambon for the 2nd of March. In total I spent 350 euros! So to compensate this reckless behaviour I'm going to eat something really cheap for dinner (1 euro noodles in stead of 1,30 euros sate).

If the volcano behaves I'll try to add some pictures tomorrow.
-Me


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Lake Toba

Horas - Sama sama!


It's been awhile. I'll try to go through what has happened.

Last Saturday at Kuala Lumpur I woke up early, hopped on a train, bus, plain, bejak, bus and a boat. It took me about 14 hours to reach Lake Toba from Kuala Lumpur. I got on the boat from Parapat to Tuk Tuk at around six o'clock, and apparently it was the last boat to sail here that day (lucky me). On the boat I was greeted by bule-hunters, who - after hearing me being Finnish - sang me such everlasting hits as "Todella Kaunis" and "Nousee". I was also informed that all the guesthouses in Lake Toba are 1) full 2) former residences of Riku and Tunna from Madventures.

I met three rather silent french girls on the boat who had heard of a guest house called Marylane, Marlin or Mar-something. After walking half an hour in the rain we found a place called Merlin and decided that it was close enough. I took a two person room for myself and spent approximately 6,60 euros per night.

After competing for the dominance of the room with palm-sized cockroachest I started considering for finding a better accommodation. I walked around the breathtakingly beautiful town of Tuk Tuk for an hour or so, and ended up in a place called Reggae for a cup of coffee.

View from Reggae, with John in the front and Lake Toba in the back

I was first greeted by John, a rasta haired batak, who started chatting about the local history (after I convinced him that I was not particularly interested in hash nor magic mushrooms). Later I was accompanied by Olli, a fellow Finn who was also looking for a upgrade from his current residence. We decided to join forces and managed to rent possibly the best accommodation in the whole island, a Batak house with a killer view and the possibility to jump straight to the lake from our terrace. Price: 3,30e per night each.

View from our cabin

Me after a nap on our balcony

Ollis dip to the lake

So thats where I've been the rest of the week, and its been just amazing. The people here are really kind and honest, everybody greets you on the streets and all the people smile. Food is all local, meaning fish from the lake, chicken from the yard, fruits from the trees and rice from the nearby fields. A portion of food costs about 1,50 euros. The water is about 29 degrees and sky blue. Life is good. Very good :)

Next stop is Bukit Tinggi on Sunday - a town in the middle of the jungle. I'm really interested on learning how to surf, so from there I'll head to the SW-coast next to the Indian Ocean and try to find small waves and a sand beach.

BR.,
Me


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Kuala Lumpur III

Change of plans


OK, I've officially seen Kuala Lumpur by now, and must move on. I've got a flight on next Tuesday, but I long for Indonesia already. Hence I've booked flights for tomorrow morning and jump over to Medan immediately.

The plan is to land to the Medans Polonia International Airport, haggle for a bejak to get to the Amplas bus terminal (I'm writing this down so that I could remember it), take a six hour bus ride to Parapat and from there a boat to Tuk Tuk.. in Lake Toba!

I've heard so much about it that I have to check the place out. My plan is not to linger there too long though, but I haven't managed to plan where to go next.

Next post from there, I've got to get everything ready tonight!

BR,
me

Kuala Lumpur II

Munkin, munkin?

As there is not too much to do in KL but eat, that's what we've done.

The dinner on Tuesday with the Malay girls was entertaining. By ordering food 'Family style' you'll get the orders on big plates in the middle of the table and a separate plate with rice for everybody around the table.  I'm a bit confused on what we ate, but the meal consisted of meat with coconut, fish with coconut and vegetables.. with coconut.

I've orientated myself to select a task for each day and then concentrate the whole day for fulfilling the task at hand (as advised by Henriikka). Yesterdays task was to find dried Bael-fruits. As they were sold at the chinese superstore next door to our hostel the task was completed in less than 10 minutes. So the rest of the day we just wondered. During dinner I found my favourite dish from a street kitchen: Sate Ayam. Peanut sauce and chicken on a stick (0,70 ringgits or 17 cents per stick).

Todays task was a bit more challenging. I was supposed to find trekking pants and a mosquito net. As people in Kuala Lumpur seem to dislike trekking and tend to hang out in air conditioned shopping malls instead the supply for trekking equipment is really limited. We met the first female taxi driver when travelling from Bukit Bintang to KLCC. She automatically used the meter (really unlikely here) and told that that's how the men here are, they "want to catch the fish immediately because they never see the same fish again". Her taxi was filled with hearts, plastic flowers and other pretty and pink stuff. Cute.

Tomorrows task could be to find out something more about my possible travel itenary in Sumatra. I'm tempted to stay there the majority of my two month visa, but I have to look into that more.

That's about it. I'll head out to the hagglers heaven in China Town to find a head torch.

Selamat Malam!
/L

Kuala Lumpur I

Taxi, sir? Mister look very tired, taxi?

I landend to KL yesterday at 18:30. The flight left an hour late and somehow still managed to land half an hour early. The trip from the LCCT to the Explorers Guesthouse was easy and included an 1 hour bus ride, 2 minute monorail-trip and a few steps through the laid back traffic. I was welcomed by my Finnish friend Henriikka, who (after a two month backpacking) looked more relaxed and tanned than never before. Actually in such a degree that I had really a hard time recognizing her when she greeted me at the hostels entrance lounge.

The hostel, by the way, is really really nice. Clean, confortable and cheap. You're not allowed to use shoes here, so everybody is running bare footed. And we've got a rooftop terrace! And tiny geckos!

It's approximately 30 degrees, the sky is clear and the air is so humid you could call it wet. We're off to the city with no precise plans. See ya!

---

Back. Lunch for two people including chicken masala, nan-bread, nasi goreng, funny cucumber-thingy and drinks was 17 ringgits = 4 euros.

We wondered around little india, and ended up in an islamic something something, where we were clad in proper clothing before entering

Easter muslim

Prefect camouflage

In the evening we're going out with a Henriikkas malaysian friend.

Thats it for now. Friends and family - be safe!

BR,

Bapak Lauri

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London

Wohoo, London, yeah baby yeah!

Easyjet had misspelled my name somewhere in their system, so it took more than an hour to check me in. No worries, the main point was that I got on the plain.

I'm residing at my friends boyfriends parents house. Amazing! I thought I had my last confortable night in my own bed of Friday - but the one I've got here is tons better! I fell in to a coma for eight full hours, and was woken up at nine with a cup of hot coffee.

We strolled around Guildford for about four hours. I decided that my hiking shoes are rubbish, so I got a new pair of confortable and light ones. Next  - gourmet burgers and bowling. Life's goooood!

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24 hours - preparados, listos, ya!

Just a moment and I'm off.

I've said goodbye to my family, friends, co-workers and even to people I barely know. My backpack is packed and everything is pretty much set. I've still got plenty of stuff lying around the apartment, but hopefully I've got time tomorrow to get rid of everything I wont need. 

I've given away all my clothes - it was the first charity work I've ever done! In total we gathered six bags of clothes and one box of shoes. There's now a group of asylum seekers in Helsinki dressed up just like me. Besides the childhood photos I left with my mom I now own just the stuff I'm carrying with me. 

I'm starting to feel really anxious... Or rather I'm not aware what I'm supposed to feel. Excitement? Fear? General something? Dunno. Hopefully I'll figure out tomorrow.

Now I've got to go. Tomorrow London, more updates from there.

Thank you for the fish goodbye parties, gifts and amazing moments together! I feel greeeeeaaat! :)