Post from Michelle:
Indonesia is so different from home but yet I find it very comfortable. What I might consider drawbacks û the air pollution, crazy traffic, and constant noise û add to the flavor of the country. After a morning spent exploring Solo (we arrived last night), we sit in a cafe drinking chai tea and listening to funky music. Out the door I see motorcycles whiz by. A man across the street sleeps on a bench oblivious to the bustle around him. Becak drivers pedal high above their red or blue becaks, carrying passengers. A food vendor goes by with a cart full of food, ringing a bell. Vendors make different noises to advertise which foods they are selling. For example, this vendor is selling satay û meat grilled on skewers. If he was selling noodles, he would bang two sticks together. It is good to sit back and watch the activity outside, while escaping the heat. Observing the people, is it easy to grow fond of them.
The Indonesian people have had a lot of turmoil in their country. There were riots here in Solo in 1998 and you can still see remnants in the burned out buildings dotting the city. But the people we meet, despite their hardships, are consistently friendly, helpful and welcoming.
The Indonesian people have had a lot of turmoil in their country. There were riots here in Solo in 1998 and you can still see remnants in the burned out buildings dotting the city. But the people we meet, despite their hardships, are consistently friendly, helpful and welcoming.