Sit or printed, I wrote a lot.
From Sumba to Timor I sipped the crossing by boat more 'long journey in Indonesia: 32 hours, as I call Flores to first reach Kupang, the main port on the island of Timor. The boat, as usual, and 'a kind of a little rusty tramp steamers (squeaking causing anxiety), however, with some pregievole comfort zone as a with air conditioning for a few pennies where you can 'rent a mattress, to be spread on the ground on which to spend the night and satellite TV, good to see a film in English (the patriotic "Beyond Enemy Lines" - the story of a pilot American shot down in Serbia during the NATO bombing, alone against all, but we will do ') or a MotoGP race (also in Indonesia, Rossi-mania).
Kupang and 'last city' of a certain size (300 thousand inhabitants) and I visit in Indonesia and 'a little' the sum of these daring in 60 days' archipelago. Busy, noisy, sometimes dirty and chaotic, but basically very friendly.
The bemo of Kupang
What '? The bemo and 'a shared taxi which can be found in all cities' of' Indonesia. In the form of a van, hosts usually 8 people but there 's a real limit to capacity. It runs on fixed routes that are identified by the colors of bemo or numbers. Stop at the request of passengers. In addition to the driver (a little more 'that age in most cases) uses a "crier" who, clinging to the sliding door, outside the car, drew the attention of passers-by shouting the destinations and stops the vehicle from the hand on the roof. The bemo and 'private and there' then a fierce competition for every passenger, even on the same route.
In Kupang Bemo I saw the most 'beautiful and fracassone in Indonesia. There is a real phenomenon of tuning, for the most 'cool city'. The music is 'an essential element and is fired without mercy'. Parallel under the seats in the back of the van (where you sit to the side and you are traveling opposite one another) are housed huge speakers and woofer, and when the music and 'high, your ass vibrates and ear aches. The interior '"cushion" and predominant colors like pink and green water (perhaps as a favor to the girls). However, also circulate more bemo ' fucksters, the stuff of boys, blacks and internal music strictly rock (Guns & Roses and Metallica). The interior, in addition to the padding, and 'upholstered with posters of pop stars (Britney and Avril pull) and players (Cristiano Ronaldo).
on the body, the outside is often the name of bemo: catarinfragente a huge sticker that has the title "Love Britney", "Man U", "Riccardo Kaka '," "Blue." Guys, amazing stuff. Made to me inexplicable. In Timor, the Catholic presence and 'strong and sometimes you see a sticker around Jesus' with a crown of thorns or Madonna. Then there are the long
antennoni, which do not nothing, 'cause there's no' the CB. The hull and 'shiny, perfect, with metallic paint. Chrome detailing. Alloy wheels. Lowered suspension.
at night and 'a light show, the interiors are tinged with pink or blue with neon lights and the same is happening under the vehicle: a blow to the accelerator is colored asphalt. Each
bemo and 'custom, beautiful, and I have the impression that there is a certain loyalty' in the score, like, "I only travel with the taxi to my friend" or "on what makes the music that I like ".
You pay the race shortly before their arrival and descend ... on the fly!
Other means of transportation in Indonesia
From City 'a city' ...
bus with air conditioning: the allocation of seats, comfortable, traveling day and night and only stop in the bus stations
bus without air conditioning for short-haul trips, there 'a capacity limit, they stop on request and all the time, speed 'average around 25km times, even the animals are allowed. Constant presence on board of street vendors and local singer-songwriters with a guitar. Frequent mechanical failures. Advisable to have endless patience.
Train: this only on the islands of Java and Sumatra, is a refreshing alternative al pullman.
Aerei: statisticamente non i piu’ sicuri al mondo; tuttavia veloci.
Nave: generalmente un vecchio scafo arrugginito, piu’ o meno affollato a seconda delle tratte. Anche le piu’ elementari norme di sicurezza vengono trascurate (si fuma ovunque). Dotati comunque di TV via satellite e VIP-spaces ad aria condizionata.
Charter: per i viaggiatori piu’ esigenti e danarosi; trattasi del noleggio di una macchina con autista.
All’interno della citta’...
Taxi: rapido e confortevole, va tenuto d’occhio il tassametro e la furbizia del tassista
Minibus (bemo): sapete gia’ tutto
Becak: riscio’ a pedals. Slow but cheap. Excellent for sightseeing. Widespread.
Ojek: definitely the most means of transport 'is used. Mototaxi. Does not require a license virtually every scooter and 'a potential taxi. Economic, can ', however, be dangerous. There seems no limit to the distance traveled.
Cidomo: horse-drawn cart can accommodate up to 6 people. Ecological and nostalgic.
Benur: The name probably derives from the chariots used in the movie Ben Hur. Similar to cidomo but used only for freight. The driver stands on a platform, reins in hand.
Population friend
Indonesians are incredibly friendly e simpatici. Sono stato subissato dagli “Hello Mister” e dalle richieste di conversazione. Praticamente in ogni citta’ o paese visitato ho fatto nuovi amici e scambiato numeri di telefono; al 99% sono stati momenti gradevolissimi. Un solo episodio sfortunato: il ricchione che mi ha rinchiuso nel suo appartamento a Jakarta. Rispetto ad altre popolazioni socievoli (es. Indiani) ho notato che l’indonesiano ha un genuino interesse alla conversazione; una curiosita’ sincera che non nasconde truffe o proposte d’affari.
Calcio-mania
Come in molti paesi del sud-est asiatico anche l’Indonesia e’ colpita dalla calcio-mania. Qui si segue soprattutto la Serie A (as in China) without neglecting, however, Premier League, English La Liga or the Bundesliga. The icons are football Kaka ', C. Ronaldo, Lampard, Del Piero, Totti, Maldini. Stickers and posters depopulated mainly on trucks, motorbikes and taxis. Top teams: AC Milan, Inter, Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool. In Kupang
I saw the final of the Champions League means a long night. The afternoon before the game I rented a scooter and at the time of delivery - can not remember how - I met a boy who immediately invited me to his house to watch the game. E 'come get me at midnight in the hotel and took me to the home of a friend. Here, along with 20 other guys, we followed the game. Special Mention house: a small house for 5 of 5 meters, wooden walls and tin roof where, in one room, there are hardly bed and kitchenette; under a small porch in front of the home, staying a TV screen huge giant and 4 speakers worthy of a nightclub. Stationed in the garden a motorized satellite dish. TV, speakers and probably more cost parable 'of the house. When I inquire about their presence (and 'a DJ? Organize parties?) Someone tells me that, just like the type to listen to loud music. The gang
tifava most of Man U (Pallosa game) and I, Bastia, sided with Chelsea. Total hysteria to goals. Chairs that part in the air, hugging, patting shoulders, close Alarm clock: a joy bordering on tears. At the end of the penalties started a carousel of scooters (6 in the morning, between dawn), I along with 2 other guys: in 3! Fascinating Indonesian
madness.
memorable moments, like a kid in the middle of a gang of mini football pitch in a country, chasing me shouting "hello mister, my name is Frankie" (wearing a t-shirt printed with the image of F. Lampard). Outstanding.
to the border and beyond
In Kupang know Edwin and Joel. The first and 'the operator of Lavalon Cafe', since time immemorial as a den di viaggiatori; fino all’ultimo cerchera’ di realizzare il mio sogno di traversata marina fino in Australia. Invano. Ma almeno ci ho provato. Joel invece e’ un attore australiano reduce da 3 anni di recitazione in una soap opera (Home and Away, equivalente australiana di Un posto al sole). Amareggiato e deluso dallo show biz australiano, che reputa palloso e antiquato, si prepara ad un viaggio via terra verso Londra e nuove speranze di carriera. Un tipo simpatico.
Prima di raggiungere Dili e Timor Est faccio una tappa intermedia a Kefa, nell’entroterra, e mi godo gli ultimi sprazzi di indonesianita’: gente calorosa, cibo piccante e sfide serali a calcio con i ragazzini (Playstation 3!).
Il giorno successivo, during the journey to the border the bus mast step (here we go again ...) and I have to wait for a passing minibus. Reached Atambua, the last town before the border with East Timor, I organize in order to cover the remaining 30km separating me from the "more 'young nation in the world" (independent since 2002). Travel by motorcycle taxi and everything runs smoothly. Thank goodness. I close with no scratches two wonderful months in the vast and populous Indonesian archipelago.
easily be higher than customs, synchronize the clock (+1) and hitch a ride on a truck, it's almost 4 pm and public transport stopped in transit at noon. For $ 5 U.S. I can travel with him and a lot of mattresses to Dili (130km) the capital of East Timor, where he arrived on a warm, dark night in late May.
Rene '
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