So Much To Do

The past week has been one of the most incredible weeks of my life. It was so much more then I could have expected and has been a real turning point in my travels. Now unfortunately I didn't blog any part of it along the way so now this is my week in review!

It all started when I landed in Surabaya from Singapore. I was finally back in indonesia and was so happy about it! I stayed in an apartment/hotel which was different but fine. There was a university across the street so the students used "The Square" as residence. Coming from Singapore where I felt so safe I decided to go to the shopping mall. There wasn't much there and I got some new shirts for $1.50 each - a huge difference from Singapore!

I got to the airport at 10:45 for my 11:30 flight and boarded the plane at 12:30. After a 3 hr delay and a change of planes we took off to Batam then Medan. I met a girl on the plane who helped me through the delays (Indo language) and she ended up reading my palm. Apparently I'll marry for life and my husband will bring in all the money, but I'll be happy. I got to Medan at 7pm which threw my plans a bit. I spent the night there and headed for Berastagi in the morning. I took 2 public buses to get me there and that was an interesting adventure in itself! I wore my hat to try and hide my blonde hair...I am convincing myself it worked! It took 3 hours to get to Berastagi and I took the first guest house available.

In the morning me and a Danish fella headed off at 7:30 to trek Mt. Sinabung, the largest volcano in a chain around Indonesia. It was hell! Straight up for 3 hours and straight down for 3 hours. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life but I survived it and am happy I did it. I managed of course to add to my damaged legs but that was expected. That night I slept like a baby :) The picture is the volcano from on top f a hill I hiked up.

The next morning I was planning on going to Lake Toba but it would take 6 hours to drive there and I would only have a night. 2 guys, Abdar and Thomas, let me tag along with them to Bukit Lawang to see the Orangatangs. It took us about 7 hours there by bus to get there plus a very shady operation of bus tickets. We took a rickety bridge to a hotel and after an intense game of rock-paper-scissors, Thomas and I got the bed while Abdar got the floor. It was the beginning of an awesome friendship!

The overnight trekking was expensive and we opted to do a 3 hour trek for $15. We started at 8:30 and saw the biggest Orangatang, weighing in at 95kg, within 20 minutes. He was a real charmer and practically posed for us! In total we trekked for 5 hours, saw 2 different species of monkeys, a toucan, 3 Orangatangs, and a beautiful rain forest! When we got back from our trek our guide invited us for dinner at his place. We all went to the market and got some dinner supplies. We got carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, other green veggies, Tempe, watermelon, 2 live chickens that were fillet in a bag within 10 minutes , and a bottle of him. All of that cost the 3 of us $120,000 (=$12). We went back to the hotel to nap and shower then headed to his place around 7. Dinner was delicious and we just kept eating! We had Tempe with this delicious soya saucy stuff, French fried (that I had to prepare cause I'm a woman and my place is in the kitchen), grilled chicken over an open fire, vegetable curry, rice , watermelon, beer and gin! Some of his fiends came over to help cook and eat with us and it was a real experience not to mention fun. We played games after dinner until we went to a private party. This party was a family celebrating someone graduating and thy hired a singer from Medan to come and entertain. Of course I danced the night away and when we left I was kissed and photographed by everyone at the party. It was weally weally so fun (as Thomas would say!). We left Bukit Lawang the next day at 12 to get back to Medan.

We got to Medan just as the rain started and managed I run to a hostel not far from the bus stop. It was a Cary place but only $80,000 for the 3 of us so we stayed. Once again R-P-S battle left me and Thomas on the bed (either way I was sleeping on the bed as I did NOT trust what was living in that foamy). We decide we needed a beer after our journey and hit the town in style! We went to a few clubs and danced our socks off. There are A LOT of gay people here so I had fun pawning the boys off to others whole I enjoyed dancing with everyone. Plus the compliments from all the gays weren't bad either :) We danced till 4am when we took a tuk-tuk back to our hotel. We barely fit which made the ending to our night even better. The next day we got up at 12 and headed to the mall. I did a small amount of shopping and we wasted enough time to get back and be ready to go out again. I went for a pedicure then was ready to do a market crawl. We walked up and down the streets sharing a meal of whatever they were making. We ate some really intersting food but it was one of the best meals yet. One was veggies and fruit in a soya peanut sauce. Spicy, salty and sweet oh my god it was good. We ended our crawl with fresh crab and fish then headed to an outdoor street club where I danced yet again and we drank beer till 4 am when I had to go to the airport.

I did so much that I wouldn't have done on my own and am so glad that I just invited myself to join with those guys. It was a whole new Indonesia for me which once again made me fall in love with it. Medan is a busy city but the people are nice and I never had a problem with them. Besides being a bit tired I'm doing good and feeling good. I'm not sure what to expect in Australia but if they have toilet paper when you go to the bathroom I'm happy! I jut need to do some major grocery shopping and I'm ready to not spend any money!