We said goodbye to half the group at Padang and 8 of us flew to Jakarta. As soon as we stepped off the plane the heat hit me, back to sweating all the time...I'm so happy, bring on the sunshine.
The traffic here is ridiculous, the worst I've come across anywhere...but it's ok because all the traffic means capital city and I'm sure they have some decent food somewhere and I'm making it my business to find it!!
While sitting in the traffic people have tried to sell us all sorts of crazy stuff, we started taking bets on what would be next. So far we've had wooden animals, food, drinks, a miniature bicycle, an inflatable telly tubby and a mattress! Coming into the city there are lots of huts at the side of the road, with the high rise buildings in the background. People begging and kids with no shoes by the roadside.
The hotel is very nice, you're always guaranteed a nice hotel when it's the start of a new tour. Because our journey from airport took twice as long as it should have we literally had to drop our bags and go and meet the new group. We now have a couple more men to keep Daniel company, he must be sick of travelling with 14 girls by now.
On Sunday we went for a walk around the city, first stop was a very boring museum about what they've all been about...war. Then to the national monument, it was very busy because it was Sunday and there were lots of people walking round with Gareth Bale masks on? Apparently he'd been there for some reason but I didn't catch why and I definitely didn't see him. There was another museum (yawn) inside the monument, I spent most of my time waiting for the toilet and trying to explain to the Asian ladies I wasn't standing in the wet room with cockroaches for fun...get in the line and wait your turn!!
After we took the bus to the old town, quite an experience and not easy trying to get 17 people on to the same packed bus. There's a massive drop when you step off the platform onto the bus, I nearly found out how far down it was when a little man tried to shove me and get on first. Daniel said I had a BF, I checked what this meant and he was spot on....BF means b**** fit. Oh well, he will think twice about pushing me again that's for sure and I hope he googled the names I called him.
After lunch we had free time so I went with a few of the girls to find the harbour, it was a nice thought but we never made it. We ended up walking down creepy streets, asking people for directions and it was always 10 minutes that way. We gave up in the end and got a taxi home. I got myself a massage at the hotel, it was nice until I didn't hadn't have much of a tip give the lady and she shook her hand at me telling me I needed to give her more tip. I didn't and she stormed out, she needs to work on her customer service and maybe I need to make sure I have some smaller notes next time.
I got very excited about our evening, we were going to the backpacker street where they sold actual alcohol and there might be other humans to talk to!
I keep forgetting to keep my expectations low, this was no Bangkok backpacker area that's for sure. Apart from locals and a few scary looking tourists, we were it. I managed to get myself a cocktail after dinner and some Smirnoff Ice..but without the atmosphere I just wanted to sleep. I think we're going to have to wait till Bali before we can party.
I'm still carrying round my postcards, they'll never make it home before me at this rate. There has to be a post office somewhere?! But I won't hold my breath.