Beep Beep!

"Beep-Beep" everyone gives little beeps to indicate their location. 

I sit in the back of the small s.u.v., watching the chaos in front of my driver, fascinated at his calm and casual attitude toward the mayhem in front of him.  Never really stopping, we move forward no matter what is in front of us,  over to the sides of us or behind our vehicle, weaving in, out and around anything that is in our way.  There are trucks, carts, trams, mopeds, dollies, busses and motorcycles as well as pedestrians and bicyclists all thrown together to make the most interesting traffic I have ever seen, and I've been to Jamaica!


We pull over to the side of the road and pick up a pedestrian who sits in the front seat along with the driver.  We travel down the street for about a mile, turn right past the police station and right again and down in front of my hotel where the driver drops the passenger, after paying him a little bit of money and then up the ramp and I am delivered to the doors of my hotel.  Slowly, I swallow my heart back into place, pick up my backpack and exit the vehicle thanking God I am alive for yet one more day.  :)

This man is picked up at a certain spot where we found him holding his index finger out, indicating 1.  We picked him up because the road we wanted to travel on is designated for 3 or more passengers only - during drive-time.  Clever!  I believe the U.S. has its own version of this out East for the toll roads. 

Yesterday, I saw two young parents and a baby riding a motorcycle.  The baby, couldn't have been more than a year old, was standing on mamma's knee (left leg) and she had her arm wrapped around him as they weaved through the traffic.  Everyone seemed comfortable and natural about the whole thing.  This is the norm here.  OH MY GOSH!   I will try to take a picture the next time I see it.  :)

The traffic is a fascination for me because it is the most current example of just going with the flow.  Reminding me to just relax, sit back and move with the flow of life.  Allowing the energy to move me along..to release control.  hmmmmmmmmmm.......

And so, who would ever think I would find harmony while in drive-time traffic on the streets of Jakarta?  The Universe can present its lessons in such a funny way!

Journey to Jakarta

After being awake for 48 hours

I guess you could say my journey to Jakarta began back in June when I packed up my home to head out to this fascinating city.  I stayed with friends over the course of three months prior to my departure (which was last Saturday night).  I enjoyed time with the Vasquez family.  Gracie and I got along famously!  As a thank you, I antiqued their kitchen and bath cabinets and worked on clearing dead plants from the side and front yards.  Good exercise.  Then it was on to The House of Mings :) where I was allowed to just relax and play pool, and then on to The Crawfords where I experienced an electrical black out and someone hitting my parked car and taking off...damage was minimal.  I woodgrained two sets of french doors as a thank you.  Back to The House of Ming for more R&R and then finally, I went to The Duncans for two days of great fun, excellent food and drink while preparing for my departure.  My friend Amanda kept me busy on the weekends as we had fun playing pool and finding bars that serve Guiness.  :) My friend, Tim, came along on our last night out and it was a fun night for a send off!

When Saturday came, it was a long night of flying and then another day's worth.  I fell in the Taipei airport and it was a gentle reminder that outside the U.S., the rest of the world is not safety-proofed and you have to really pay attention to where you step!  Then it was on to Jakarta and to meet my client's assistant Fi Fang, who couldn't have been more accommodating.  

My first impression was just how kind the Indonesian people are...and how crowded the city appeared to be.  And the Traffic!  The way the traffic moves is rather nerve racking, and yet very harmonic.  No accidents, but everyones driving wherever they can fit, e.g., three cars in two lanes with motorcycles weaving around them.  Very interesting...motorcycles and mopeds moving gracefully between the cars at all times....Chaotic and yet flowing.  Well, I have to quickly run down and catch my breakfast before I start a day of work in this relentless heat....ugh.....:)  Love to all!  D.