Overseas Mail

There is still much to learn about the mailing process in Indonesia, but at this point I have a few experiences to share from.  There were a couple options in how I wanted to receive mail.  One would be to have it delivered to my house and the second option I knew of was to get a P.O. Box.  Both systems appear to be similar to the U.S., although I've noticed the mailman delivers mail using a motorcycle.  With the mail I've sent and received, it seems to take about 2-3 weeks for a package and around 1 week for a letter.  The post office I use (pictured below) is about a 15 minute walk or 5 minute angkot ride from my house, but if I want to mail a package to the U.S. I must go to the main post office in downtown Bandung.

Public Transportation - Angkot

Since arriving in Indonesia I've been getting around by foot, borrowing a ride from friends, and by angkot.  The angkot is similar to taking a bus in the inner city back in the states.  Although as a farm boy I don't recall taking the bus except to go to school, but I've now experienced the angkot several times in Bandung.  Here's an explanation...

There are numerous angkots around the city, so once you reach a main street its easy to find one, but the problem for a foreigner (and maybe even for some nationals) is knowing the right angkot to take.  The angkots run different routes through the city and usually have terminals where they start and stop.  Thankfully the angkots are color coordinated and state the terminals they run to and from.  I've only got a few of them down so far, but have enough language that I can usually get to the place I'm going by asking the drivers or the many friendly Indonesians.  If one's destination is far, they'll usually have to ride a few different angkots.

Sometimes a person may ride alone or with a few others, but the drivers seem to like to get the most people possible inside an angkot.  Therefore, they can be quite crowded with two people in the front seat with the driver and maybe up to 12 on the bench seats in the back lining the sides of the angkot (children excluded because they can sit on laps).  If you want to get out, simply say "kiri" ("left" or in this case "pull over") and the driver pulls over, or if getting on, raise your hand at the next angkot.  The driver's desire to fill the angkot often becomes the frustration of those riding because the driver will sometimes pull over and wait for people to come on for several minutes before going again.  Thus, a second form of public transportation is the ojek, motorcyle with driver - quicker, usually for short distances.  Taxis are also available.  The angkot is certainly the cheapest with the price running about $.20/mile.  In perspective, a good meal can be purchased for about $1.

Here's some photos of a few different angkots and some shots from the inside of a full angkot.

 

Walking through the Hills of West Java

Almost a month and a half ago, one of my roommates and I took a walk from our house to the nearby hills/mountains north of Bandung (the city I am living in).  We walked up hill for about two hours, so a round trip totaling four hours.  It wasn't what I would normally experience on Christmas Eve, with temperatures in the 70s and partly-cloudy skies, which provided a nice sunburn when I returned.  But the scenery was amazing and I learned a little about the Indonesian countryside.  Here's some photos from our journey.

Towards the outskirts of Bandung, we came across several nice houses like this one.   There is also a national forest to the north of Bandung, which we walked alongside for part of our trail.

The higher we went, the more and more farm ground we saw.  I'm not sure of all crops they grow, but there's certainly a variety.

Of course we came across some Indonesian people out working!  I'm not sure what the woman and man are carrying in the photo above, but it appeared to be a crop recently harvested.  The group of men and women, old and young, to the left, were taking a break from their work in the field.

We came upon this village as we walked farther up the hill.  We only attracted a few stares.

And finally here's the view from our stopping point!  Looking down on the town of Lembang in the distance with the forest in the foreground and to the left.

Tenis Meja

Walking through the nearby neighborhood recently I came upon this sight...

Where rubble and trash had once collected amongst a few plants, a ping-pong table now stood.  Two men were playing while several children watched on.

After talking with some of the onlookers, I learned that members of the community had pooled their money to purchase the ping-pong table and the sign stated that one gentleman had given the land for the purpose of placing the table there.  Now the youth and men of the community enjoy playing here often in the afternoons.  When it rains the table is folded up and moved under a nearby shelter until the next time they want to play.  I would guess ping-pong probably ranks 6th in popularity behind the leading sports of soccer, futsol (like indoor soccer), badminton, volleyball, and basketball.  I might join them in a game one of these days, as I try to rekindle the skills from the days  of playing with my brothers in the basement of our house.