Entry Point 5: Old Town Jakarta (Chinatown/Sea Port)

I don't think he was too happy to have his picture taken. .

                             Too me this is very Asian 

         I kept thinking: "Please hold, please hold, please hold. . "

                                Me with the mama bear

You'll spot these guys all over Jakarta & Bali. Street Cats/Dogs. Some of them have owners, others don't.

So when passing these ships, I noticed a guy playing a guitar at the top. At first I "asked" (ie:me nudging my camera up & down) him if it was ok to take his picture. He kept insisting that I go up there and join him. I kept saying no intill. .  

 

 I said screw it and finally went up there.. Going up wasn't a problem, but going down was wonky (especially if you don't have your sea legs). So I just sat down and literally moved my ass bit by bit in till I reached the bottom haha. Of course the guy was walking behind me with no problem. .

The insight we got from this guy was priceless, the crew-members  on these ships defiantly don't have it easy. He talked about how local Indonesian pirates would climb aboard and either abduct or kill people with little to no thought. 

Also, from what I've been told its like a 30hr something journey to the island they trade with (various vegetables,fruits etc.) and quite a long haul, even with provisions in mind. I unfortunately didn't get a chance to meet the captain as he was on shore leave for the week.

Sometimes when I look at those ropes, I realize that they have as much of a story to tell as the people who commandeer them. What have they truly been through?

 It was defiantly an old and rickety boat and I tripped over myself a number of times. 

                         This was a brief bit of their dining area. . 

 

Interestingly enough, my 'friend' kept insisting once more that I come down with him and check out the engine room. Again, ever the pessimist I said "no", but he didn't mean come down literally, but just too see it from over the railing. The energy was defiantly bleak and coarse on board - so much so you could cut it with a knife.. He of course told us his background and what fisherman/traders go through during their travels, this all happened after we got off, as my Bahasa was no good. "Validation" I guess..

  When getting off the ship Harun and I both slipped him some Rupiah. From which he was sincerely grateful and I am sure he would want something different than the usual Chili Fish.

 

 Apparently this bike was a little too "loud" for the local fisherman/traders. I got a kick out of that.

Another common, but equally sad sight to see all over Jakarta is the pollution (albeit air, land or water) it's quite rampant here. Its just a sad, sad sight to see..

                                               Street Dogs

                  Past & Present. Which one is which I wonder?

   Quick photo opportunity here

            A little bit of over there - over here  (Its about a 7hr(+) plane ride from Tokyo to Jakarta by the way. . )

These two guys were really friendly and chill, didn't speak a lick of English, but who says you have to anyways?

                                  He liked that I noticed his tat

Quick family picture and last real outing in Indonesia. I went with Ina (4th from the right) & Harun (5th from the right) and of course my mom (middle). The weather was nice and lunch was even better. I am gonna miss my Mie Goreing ; /. .