Flying into Batam from Surabaya (my ticket said via Jakarta, but I guess the pilot forgot) the landscape was way different from Bali. Bright orange clay soil, with a back drop of green forest. Indonesia is a country going through changes and Batam is a case in point.
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Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia. I have been through Jakarta at night on a local bus and flown in and out of the airport. Both views of the city reminded me of Los Angeles, big, a ton of traffic and brown smog. A French expat once told me you can’t get sunburnt in Jakarta, there is too much pollution in the air.
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There has been no further news of the missing Adam Air plane, that dissappeared on its way from Surabaya, to Manado in Sulawesi. Authorities are concentrating on the ocean areas the plane might have flown over, as well as parts of southern Sulawesi island. The mother of the 3 missing people from Oregon, is holding out for some good news.
Here’s more from the Jakarta Post.
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A ferry has sunk off off north Java. Indonesia being a nation of 17,000 islands and not much money, the many boats used for transporting people / goods are always overloaded. This is the Indonesian equivelant of a ‘Value Jet’ crashing…goes with the territory.
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Batam is a bit of a mystery to me. Its a special economic zone with close access to Singapore, other than that it still seems like a place that is figuring itself out. Without a real cultural center, choosing a hotel is a really guess work. Looking online I saw places for $40 and up but the reality is you can find many good places for less, simply by arriving at the port and making a reservation there.
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Lombok and the islands to the east are an adventure waiting to happen. People wanting to get a feel of what Bali was like in the 1970’s should catch a ferry to Lombok and step back in time. Recent visitor Adam reports getting around was easy, even for someone who doesn’t sound too organized.
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Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago. Most people outside of the country do not realize how large it actually is. Even the Texas Sheriff had to remark ’shucks, its a lot bigger than I thought’ when was here last. Travelling through Indonesia’s 17,000 islands requires a variety of transport, including motorbike, car, bus, train, plane and boat. You have to be able to adapt, taking advantage of the local infrastructure. One recent visitor to Indonesia had a great time, and is glad he made it out okay.
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Adam Air, one of Indonesia’s budget airlines, has lost a plane carrying 96 passengers and 6 crew, over Sulawesi.
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Many people come to Bali from Australia to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. Being away from home, not such a big deal, because home is relatively close, and relatives often accompany. It’s a different story for Europeans and Americans, who find themselves in Bali. For people who celebrate Christmas in a big way back home, Christmas in Bali could be a weird experience.
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