Inspiration came via a glance at the hills on my way to work last Wednesday. One of these bright and clear Jakarta mornings showed the Gunungs in the distance and I knew instantly where we were heading that afternoon.
Taking the Jagorawi Toll, a journey which I have only made three times, two for the A1 Motro races and one for the obligatory visit to Tamam Safari, we chose not to take the well trodden Bogor / Puncak / Tamam Safari road and instead headed right at the junction and made for Ciawi.
As soon as the dual carriageway stopped it became apparent that the decision to avoid the more common tourist route was a good one as the road narrowed and the small market town ahead bustled with "real kampung" activity (as compared to Jakartan kampung activity)
Between the small villages, paddies, hill's and landscapes changed with each kilometre travelled, no two vita's were the same...
The ubiquitous handicraft stores were strewn along the roads, however, not so much "in your face" as Bali can be....
Garden Furniture....
WTF, still never figured this stuff out...
Rattan....
Pottery....
Meanwhile, as we travelled, the little bit's of landscape which makes this place unique unfolded...
Downhill....
Uphill....
The strange multi-storey living accomodations...
Bamboo Car Ports....
More high rise housing....
Wobbly Roofs
Cock Fighting!
Just houses and mountains...
More Paddies...
More mountains and clouds....
Mosques under construction...
Small hidden Kampungs
And finally ending up South of Bogor.
All in all, a three and a half hour trip well worth making...I should do this more often methinks....
Holy Hell that ridiculous tiger is still there. I last spotted it around 1996!
ReplyDeleteDilli, Just so it isnt one sided and to let you know that we do very much enjoy your posts. I'm an 4 generation Aussie with Scottish heritage, lived 12 years in Indo, have a beautiful Indonesian (Sumatran)Wife and Son, we are now living and working 4 years in Qatar. I frequent another mate of yours, Paraglider, who provides similar interesting insights and comments about the diverse culture here. Anyway to cut a long story short, I really enjoyed this post with the photos of your trip south and east in Java. Brings back wonderful memories of similar trips - can almost smell and feel the warmness of the air with its exotic scents. Keep up the posts, there are those of us who do tune in regularly. Cheers, PaulRB-Doha.
ReplyDeleteHi Dilli,
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd let you know that the Highland Gathering is back this year. It's up on Sunday, 23 May 2010 at Imperial Klub Golf, Lippo Karawaci.
Same old stuff will take place, Highland Games, heavies, massed pipes and drums, scottish dancing, woodchoppers, tug o'war, etc. but this year we're going to have new concepts like dedicated teen arena (Battle of the Bands, by British International School), kids tents, bazaar, and lots other.
Hope you can make it this time around. The Highland Gathering awaits you and your great write-ups!
Olivia
www.jkthighlandgathering.org
That's a good photo set :)
ReplyDeleteIn fairness I think it's more the Camera than me...
ReplyDelete