Selamat Pagi or Good morning everyone in Indonesian. My language level is now about 10 words. We are in Pontianak, Indonesia and in 10 minutes will be at the dock for our 4-5 hour boat ride. It has been a mind expanding experience beginning with the flight into the country and then going through customs. We spent an extended period of time there as the agents went through the bag of medical things we were bringing in. Nothing of real value but they were most concerned about the fact that we had catheters that were out of date. They ended up keeping some of them..didn't fully understand that they could be resterilized. BUT they issed the depo medrol (for joint injections) and lidocaine (anesthetic) so we were happy,
We were met by Pak an Indonesian man who has basically squired us around adn thank goodness for that. Driving here is basically a system of bumper cars all done either in cars without seat belts or on hundreds of motor bikes. Lanes are basically suggestions with bikes passing on the right and left cutting one another off and with entire families holding on. HOWEVER, everyone is wearing a helmet and there are basically no horns blaring. I periodically just close my eyes as we come to roads where hundsreds (literally) of these motor bikes and cars merge.
Last night we were taken to a major shopping mall so that we could buy a few thngs i.e. a dictionary and for Pak some food. He dropped us off at this Indonesian form of a Cosco on three floors and told us he would find us in an hour. Again a matter of trust. I had no idea how he would find us, but perhaps since we were the ONLY North Americans in the place and the object of much interest - but friendly smiles- he succeeded and one again to another round of bumper cars.
Breakfast this morning was a mix of Indonesian food and cereal. And we have loved the air conditioning in this nice hotel. This will change shortly...hot and humid ahead
Have met the newk conservation director who has wide experience and a big job ahead of him. We are going to learn alot..and are on our way.
Love to all,
Lauri and Jim
No comments:
Post a Comment