Erupting volcanoes! Boxing kangaroos! An elephant bull in the heath! Prehistoric monsters! What happened to a thief? Are the orangutans drunk? Lunatic rickshaw drivers! Temples in the deep jungle! Secret chambers of sultan’s palace!
This and much more on our Flickr photos! Have a look in HERE (or click the link in the side bar).
The ancestors believed that the mountain was sacred and that the spirits roamed the peak, but mainly they feared climbing to the peak due to never coming back. When the British conquerors arrived, they wanted to climb the mountain but the locals tried to stop them and warned them that they will stay in the jungle forever and never come back if they dare to knock on the spirits doors.
Of course, in nowadays Mount Kinabalu is still a holy place for the locals but the Brits and many other people from different nationalities climbed it and did not met any spirits of ancestors, but to experience the beauty of South East Asia’s highest peak and it’s views. A 4092 m of altitude and the experience of a lifetime, it’s a hard way up and costing, as calculated it costs like a 100 euro. Well, we were not that lucky (or stupid?) to climb to 4092 m but we surely made it to Kinabalu National Park and the Poring Hot Springs next to it.
Before I tell you about all this trekking/climbing/wild nature watching details, let me proudly share some facts. We are now in our 10th month of traveling of the trip. We have visited 17 countries and more then 60 cities. Our furthest and Southern most destination was not Australia as many of you have expected, we wished so much to make it there but since we were broke and exhausted, the need to get back to a routine life all played a major role stopping us. So the furthest point was Bali, Indonesia as you have seen in our Flickr pictures.
We have now started the way back up. Passing by the Malaysian Borneo (Maiku’s favorite destination) then heading to the KL, my favorite, and then the City of Angels aka Bangkok, which will be our last stop before we head home on 4th of February. Home to Finland!
But let’s not talk about that, there is still lots of experiences to tell and share before our journey home.
Malaysian Borneo’s biggest city is Kota Kinabalu, which means one of Air Asia’s destinations; we flew there from Jakarta and stayed at the best backpacker’s lodge ever, Kinabalu Backpackers. It was a small place run by a lovely young Chinese Malaysian couple. Borneo is magnificent, unfortunately Maiku got fever (again!) at the first 3 days which stopped most of our action – well the weather wasn’t our best friend either, this time of the year tends to be rainy. Floods!
But not to fear, nothing stopped us before and nothing will now, and so we decided to visit the jungles. I am no Tarzan but it’s worthy trying. So we took a bus ride to Sandakan, or the exact location will be Sepilok Orangutan Sactuary. Orangutans, as we discovered, are very shiny and gentle animals, it takes lots of patience to see one and be able to take close up photos of them.
We then decided to take a daily tour to meet the funniest monkeys ever, Mr. Nose Monkey and his family, the Proboscis monkeys which only exist in Borneo and live in the wild in the deep of the jungle. Guess what, we took a small boat (I had to face my water fears) and spent a great day with our expert guide Mr. Aji , tracking the lovely wild nature. All details come in Maiku’s future post, stay tuned: she will shock you!
It isn’t over here; in my next post I will share with you the experience of a lifetime, have you ever imagined me playing Tarzan, well 50 meters above ground and walking on a rope…
Sasi (Borneo,Malaysia)!
P.S: Have you seen a flower called Rafflesia? Biggest flower on the globe, pictures will be brought to you on MaikuSasi.com!
About half an hour before Jakarta, the views from train window changed from lush green rice paddies to shackles, trash and more trash. These slums and shackles accommodate thousands of dwellers, who have moved from countryside to the capital in hope of better life and jobs. I think it would have been better off in the rural area, where you can at least grow your own rice and vegetables.
Kids playing literally in between of the train tracks while their mums washing laundry on really dirty looking water sources – which probably serves also as drinking water wells. Fathers (if around) collecting garbage like plastic bottles and cardboard to sell, to get some money to buy food. I assume there would be days when the family stays hungry. Not a chance to school or medical care, not a chance to get out – unless some miracle happens. It doesn’t.
The contrast to the central Jakarta is huge: sky scrapers, fashion boutiques, good cars. For us, Jakarta was mainly just an unavoidable destination to fly out. So the only day we had in there, we had already earlier decided to use for a zoo visit. I had read from Jakarta Post daily that there was four white tiger cubs been born just few days before, and also I wanted to see the Komodo Dragons since we didn’t had a change to visit the island itself.
To get to the zoo, you have to take a city bus. So we were waiting for one in the bus stop, and when the right number arrived, Sasi asked the money charger if it goes to the zoo. “Yes, to the monkeys”, he confirmed happily and had a little monkey imitation dance as well just to make sure. When we had to change to another bus, Sasi asked again, and this time both him and the money charger (different guy obviously) had the monkey dance. It seems Indonesians like monkeys the best.
The zoo itself was a bit shocking sight what comes to the living standard of animals. By development country measures, it is actually rather good, but the Third World zoo standards are far from the European ones. Having said that, the living conditions of the animals in the cages were far, far more better than countless human beings we saw during the trip.
Some of the much-liked monkeys seemed quite apathetic, just sitting and staring, some even begging for treats. Same with most of the bears except the ones which were neurotic. Orangutans lied on their backs looking like extremely drunken hobos. We also wondered if the Komodos were tranquilized. Thinking back, it seemed as the whole zoo would have been high. Apart from big cats, which seemed mostly irritated and bored.
We didn’t first find the white tigers at all. I even learned the word in Indonesian when asking directions to ‘harimau putih’. At last, there was one male. But no cubs or their mother. I had assumed though that they would be out in public since they were still so small. I was disappointed anyway. But then Sasi wandered a bit further and came back to me eyes glittering: you have to come here fast!
He had managed to find the care-keeper of the tigers, and had agreed with him to take us to see the puppies. So backstage we went, and he rolled up a plastic cover of one cage. And there they were, four cubs and their mother. The cutest little things ever, pure white and fluffy, shining blue eyes just barely open. They couldn’t yet walk properly since they were only about two weeks old. We were not allowed too close not to disturb the nursing mama, but even from a bit further and behind the bars, it was still the experience of a lifetime.
Sorry about the bad picture quality, had to take them obviously behind the bars and without flash.
And the names of the little ones?
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono named after four Indian white tiger cubs Ayu, Asri, Kasih, and Sinar in Ragunan Zoo.
“Kasih is to love others, Ayu is beauty, Asri is for the environment, and Sinar is a light of kindness,” President Yudhoyono explained about the meanings of the cubs` names.
The four tiger cubs, consisting of three females and one male, were born in the zoo on December 26, 2008.
ANTARA News
(Indian? I guess the daily means Bengal tiger.)
THIS, by the way, is an excellent tiger site.
Maiku, who loves tigers.
Ps:
On isot valkoiset tiikerit karanneet,
on kadonneet jäljet länsituuleen.
Ja rukous kiirii moskeijaan hiljaiseen kun
isot valkoiset tiikerit katoaa pimeyteen.
-Dingo
Congratulations, Mr. President.
A few hours ago, I watched Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony in a hostel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside with about a dozen of international backpackers. All but one of us were non-Americans.
“And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.”
In BBC’s programme, there was a report from Obama’s ancestors home village in Kenya. They were celebrating wildly to have their “own” American president. But Kenyans are not the only ones claiming Obama as their own son. Indonesians also think him as theirs: Obama spend four years of his childhood in an elementary school in Jakarta. He also has Indonesian step sister and more than 50 Indonesian step cousins. Indonesians happily remark that Obama is the first ever American president who has fallen out of a mango tree!
So the whole Indonesia is now suffering from Obamania. If there was plenty of knick-knack obamabilia street sellers in Washington, so there was in Jakarta: t-shirts, hats, mugs, fridge magnets and patches with his picture, DVDs, even an Obama action hero figure! And if that was not enough, it is now a trend to name new-born sons as Obama, Barry or Obambang (the former favourite of Indonesian boy names was Ryan or Rian after the Manchester United football player Ryan Giggs – don’t ask me why HE was the football hero in there, I don’t know).
Obamania, of course, is a world wide phenomena at the moment. For many, more important than mango trees are the fact that he has first-hand experience of racism through his family and more still, he has woken up on a prayer call from a minaret as a child, even if he is Christian.
“We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.”
He has managed to unite not only the Americans but also the globe. It is incredible how he has turned people to put their hopes to one man. Obviously the mankind is waiting for a new Messiah to follow, and Obama is an answer for prayers of many. He is truly the President of the World. But he certainly has now an enormous, gigantic task ahead. a loads of promises, and I hope they won’t be empty talk.
“To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.
And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.”
While watching the speech with fellow travelers, I have to confess I was holding back tears. And judging by the faces of others around me, they felt the same. It felt like an important moment of history, and a turning point. Economic crisis, climate change, wars and injustice. He truly needs to be an action hero to battle with all of these. And also he has a great task ahead to ensure the Arab world of his intentions. Muslims are still cautious and wait for his responses to his promises.
“–our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.”
I am also waiting. He has promised a lot, and we will see if he has strength, wisdom and, first and foremost, will to act. When Britain’s Tony Blair was elected, there was huge expectations. He didn’t fulfill them but failed miserably and was the second hated politician in the world after George W.
It is obviously a bit naive to think that one man could bring a huge difference, but it is heart-breaking to see the hopes of the people from Jakarta to Jenin, from Kathmandu to Kinshasa. I wish - no, I pray - that Obama can fulfill at least a part of the promises. It would be too harsh if he fails badly in the hands of powerful lobbers of US industry and conservative right wing religious idiots. I think people would loose the last of their hopes for better then.
So what lies ahead then? Astrologers and fortune-tellers have answers already. Born in Aug. 4 1961 Obama’s star sign is Leo, which is a symbol of power itself. According to an Indian astrologer, his numbers are 2 (from Jan 20), 4 (from his birthday) and 8 (from 4+4, the 44th president of USA), which signify as leadership, happiness and success, and that he is also born under the stars of common sense, pragmatism, and also extraordinary communication abilities and charisma. Well, that all we know already.
A Chinese numerologist also calms down those who feel anxious of 44th president. In Cantonese, the numbers 44 are phonetically similar to words ‘die die’. However, numerologist Weng Shi Ming says that Obamas unique year of birth makes him immune to the effects of 44. He has been born in a symmetrical year, an “upside-down” year which is the same if you rotate it upside down. 1961 was the last of this kind of years until 6009… Obama also takes power now when the Chinese new year is on the hand, and the coming year is the year of ox. Ming says this is no coincidence, since ox points to a person who is a born leader.
- So, coming to power this year is definitely a good year to Obama, says Ming according to a Malaysian daily New Straits Times.
Hope so. Meanwhile, lets grow more mango trees. Who knows what significance them have for the future politicians…
Maiku
(All quotations from Barack Obama’s Inauguration Address, according to The New York Times)
PS. I lke the fact that even if Obama is a charismatic leader, he is so obviously a human, too. He makes mistakes, and he also adores his beautiful wife and daughters. There was this funny little anecdote about his daugther Malia, 10, in the newspapers: she put more pressure to him to have a good speech. – It better be good, she said to daddy. And what he does? The first thing after the speech, he turned to Malia: “Was it good?” It shows clearly in the TV. I don’t know what she replied but if I answer for her, it would be “yes daddy, it was good”.
Bali, or as also referred to by the name “The Island of the Gods” is one heck of a paradise! I was so happy to be able to make it to the Southern hemisphere at last.
The majesty of the nature in Indonesia is grandiose, from rain forests to furious volcanoes and to the infinity of your vision rice paddies and terraces. Traveling on the road from Kuta to Ubud, we had the chance to team up with other travelers on this rough ride through the jungles of Bali. Transport in Bali is not top notch, I would say, Indonesia after all is a bit isolated and having such a huge population makes things hard to be organized. Bali though gets the biggest part of the pie being renowned as the major tourist destination.
The trip to Ubud gave us an overview on one of the most fierce volcanoes in there, we crossed the area of Mt. Batur and its caldera lake, and see how harsh nature can be sometimes, and how small we are in the face of our planet. The volcano was resting at the moment though it’s still active and attracts many tourists to watch it. It erupted the last time in 2000. You can read more about it here. Not to forget to mention the beautiful rice fields that gave us an outlook on how hard it is to do that kind of jobs, it requires time and patience and lots of energy to be able to get the final stage of the rice. The rice terraces we visited were so green and lush and dipped in water as if it was grass growing out of a river.
Ubud, the cultural center of Bali was one of the most relaxing place in our stay. Religious Hindus are living in harmony there and religion sounded as an important daily task. In Hindu tradition, they put a leaf basket full of rice, flowers and a burning scent daily in front of each house and each shop, so streets are full of these small offerings every day. Someone put that every morning in front of our door in our home stay accommodation, a place called Brata 1. The accommodation itself, was a small heaven, small cottages with lovely Hindu designs surrounding a family temple. They used to be a family house where the whole wide family would live next to each other but times have changed, families moved and now some houses are rented for tourists.
Staying in Ubud, made us discover a totally new culture to both of us. Maiku has been to India and Nepal, but Hinduism in there was totally different she said. We saw lots of art and even had the chance to see an event where all scooter drivers from all over Indonesia met to hang out, that was the most hippie scooters we ever seen. They were like straight away from a Mad Max movie.
The visit to the popular attraction called Sacred Monkey Forest was a must, even though Maiku’s love to monkeys is as much as my love to snakes: we are not best friends. She thinks they are dirty thieves (fact is that they are tricky nasty little devils). The forest has a few small Hindu temples, and we had the occasion to be visiting on the same date when a holy ceremony was taking place, once every six months. Ladies were all dressed up in their batik outfits on their best, carrying a food basket for the Gods on top of their heads, and walking in groups of family members, friends and neighbors. It was impressive how the colors mixed with the surroundings of the jungle. It was just magnificent!
Leaving Ubud was really sad, we found peace and harmony there (no wonder that has been a hot spot of hippies since 60′s) and good food and cheap accommodation and nicest people ever. We left on our bus trip to Lovina, the so-called dolphin heaven, but unfortunately after taking the morning boat for 2 hours in a lovely ride, sunny but windy, I didn’t have a chance to see any dolphins. Lovina was our New Year’s destination. We spent the event teaming up with other travelers in the pool. Literally IN the pool. That was coolest ever, swimming in a pool drinking gin and tonic. What more could you do in The Island of the Gods!
The trip of course, had to continue. The packing has to be done, and it’s always due to our little budget that land transport as our main choice. So we took a bus to Java island, the most populated island of Indonesia and the center of it all. Our destination was Yogyakarta, a student city located nearby the Borobudur Buddhist temple and Prambanan Hindu temple, where we did a day trip to see the majestic holy sites of two biggest religions in Asia.
On the way we saw the other fierce volcano, the mighty Merapi. Puffs of smoke circled over its top, when the monster was snoring in its sleep. The sleep can be easily disturbed, though, and we had a bit shivery feeling of that. I can’t understand how people live so close to these live volcanos and don’t give a damn.
Yogyakarta was awesome. Our accommodation was a hostel where all the rooms had a painting of a different color, pictures of animals and mostly the popular Gekko lizards. We also teamed up again with our new friends after a few days separation. They brought with them greetings from our lovely new young friend Afrika. She missed me so much she emailed a drawing of me. I think its quite alike, especially the hair.
Sasi by Afrika
Sasi
