10th March 2014

The chronicler reports: nothing interesting's happening. Apart from a minor motorbike accident 2 months ago. No serious damage to the bike. Unfortunately the doctors missed my dislocated joint near the ankle, resulting in 1 months operation delay - i.e.1 month ago. Two more months on the crutches, I wont get on the bike too soon. Anyway in 5 months time there will be another operation to get all that metal out of my foot... I'll definitely have to invest into some protective gear.

Finally more time for intellectual activities...

9th January 2014

Been in Melbourne for a while now. Same job, though I keep on changing the place I live, so it does feel a bit like travelling. At first I lived with friends, then in a shared apartment, now in hostels. I am looking for something more permanent though. I feel quite good in Melbourne, haven't made too many friends but the ones I have are good ones. Unfortunately I have the feeling that the strengh of some older relationships is fading. In this kind of lifestyle it seems rather natural that I keep on entering completely different societies (and then leaving them), although one would wish that older friendships would remain.

I bought a motorbike. It's fun, but I realised how owning anything generates more costs, especially here. After the purchase there are plenty of fees to pay, fines, protective gear, servicing... I will be more careful in the future. For now I'm having fun :)

2nd October 2013

Finally I've settled in Melbourne. My stay in Australia is like stage no. 2. Travelling to Australia was a school of travelling, opening myself to the world. Now is the time of acquiring practical skills. Despite my education and some work experience I don't really feel I have a professional direction (and not sure if I want to have one by the way), not sure what kind of job am I supposed to look for. I've tried a few jobs, but they were just experiences. Not exactly what I was looking for, but I appreciate them for what they gave me. I must admit, after such a long time of not working (all these volunteer jobs don't really count) I wanted to find a tough job, I think it's good for the character. I hope all these experiences will build up my confidence, especially when I start to travel. So far I haven't really had too many adventures.

I've been in Melbourne for around 6 weeks now. I found a job in a hostel quite quickly, though shortly afterwards I changed it to a kitchen job. Finally I'll learn how to cook :) I had many doubts about what I was looking for, but I think I'll hold on to this job for a while. Australia seems a good place to save some money, especially as I have some debts to pay. I'm quite sure I'll spend at least a year here, probably more.

5th August 2013

Gili Air Island, Indonesia. Three weeks ago I boarded a flight from Darwin to Bali (no hitch-hiking). Surprising how quickly I got used to a different culture. After landing in Bali I experienced a culture shock, when all these taxi or motorbike drivers tried to sell their services. What was completely surprising for me - I instantly started missing Australia. And I started to understand (a little) people fearing travelling.

From Adelaide I went northwards towards Alice Springs. I stopped in a few places, amongst them was Coober Pedy, the Opal mining town. People live there in mining shafts of course arranged as houses. Upon arriving in Alice Springs I found a job on a nearby cattle station (that is 140km away). The job - mustering cattle (generally on 4WD), drafting, branding, etc. etc. then walking the cattle back to the fields and eventually trucking the ones we were going to sell. It was also interesting to meet a different people - the "bushies" people from the bush, farmers. Other than that although here it was a little different, generally the aborigines have a bad reputation. Unfortunately it seems they've earned it because of the alcoholism and other social problems. It's a complicated issue, which starts from the common unemployment, while a return to their original way of life does not really seem possible. The government is trying to help supplying them and several institutions with money, but it does not solve the problem.

On the cattle station I just stayed for 6 weeks. I figured solving my dental problems would be cheaper in Indonesia, as well as my coming birthday inspired me to treat  myself with a birthday present. I love this ountry. I have taken the opportunity to meet some old friends. Now I am learning how to dive. Scuba diving is easy, and it seems it's easy to make it a way of life..

I am happy I came to Indonesia at the time of Ramadhan. For a while I managed to keep up the fasting with the muslims. Finally because of diving I had to give up. 

In a week I'm going to Australia. When I was working on the cattle station I did not have a way to spend my money. Now I've started travelling again, I'm surprised how fast the money is running out despite the fact, that I'm usually still hitch-hiking.

5th May 2013

Just arrived in Adelaide. I had spent the Easter in Melbourne, it was very nice to be spontaneously invited for Easter brunch by the Polish Jesuits. As I decided not to stop in Melbourne yet, but travel around the continent first I set of for Sydney, where I met my old travel buddy. We worked a little together, then I went to two cattle stations in the NSW Outback, but they were rather disappointing. Alltogether I haven't worked too much in Australia, and I'm still poor. In the meantime I received an answer to one of my ads I posted on internet a year ago, when I was looking for a boat sailing somewhere from South-East Asia to Australia. A captain currently somewhere around Indonesia, who wanted to sail to Madagascar and later on to South Africa was looking for a crew. The offer was really tempting, although eventually I gave in. It turned out I would have to contribute 13EUR/day to the boat running costs. That's definitely too much, especially as I would have to take a flight there, and also it's not the best time for me to travel to RSA. Sometimes one manages to get a passage on a boat contributing as a member of the crew, sometimes there is also money involved. I hope there will come a day, when I'll experience my sailing adventure.

At the moment - hitch-hiking northwards, where I hope to experience life in the Australian Outback and get a job on a cattle station.

24th March 2013

Currently in Hobart, I have been 3 months in Tassie already. At first I bothered my family here a bit. I felt like in Poland a bit, that was nice. Afterwards I was wandering around, although there's not that much to see, it's not too exotic to be honest. Then I came to Hobart, where for a while I've been the night manager in a hostel. Apart from that I had some short seasonal fruit picking jobs. I thought I would've spent more time here, but it's the least prosperous state and also it's getting cold. Eventually in two days I'm taking a flight to Melbourne, where I intend to spend Easter. Not sure what I'm gonna do afterwards.

I've met quite a few backpackers here, who are here on "Working Holiday" visas. Meeting all these people is an interesting (and sometimes challenging) change after all this lonely travel. Interesting stories. At this stage I think I have more in common with them than with the Aussie's.

A "Wooden Boat Show" had taken place in Hobart. Many wooden boats came from all over Australia. I was hoping I would get a lift with one of them back to Melbourne or Sydney, unfortunately lack of experience didn't work in my favour. Despite a very good chance all I managed to do was sail around the bay. I started thinking of getting myself a boat (in the future of course), but my friend convinced me it's too expensive an adventure.

25th December 2012

Devonport, Tasmania. Christmas with my family - uncle, auntie, cousin. The blog was supposed to be about hitch-hicking to Australia, so I could say my "mission" is finished. Almost 22 traveling months, frankly speaking I want more. I regret the value of traveling is not appreciated in Poland. This time was much more fruitfull for me, than the time I had spend studying. It's a multidimensional experience. I have learned (basics) of new languages, and practiced the ones I already know. One becomes to learn himself. It's an experience truly enriching spiritually, broadening ones horizons, which allows to look at your country from a different perspective, see things that aren't working, appreciate other things, get some distance. It's hard to express how much richer I feel, it's an amazing investment for the whole life.

I can't say I feel proud of myself. Not just because I happened to get on flights hence I failed to accomplish my the whole thing by hitch-hicking. There is a lot that depends on luck a factor that doesn't depend on me - whereas the attitude in many cases is crucial. A lot depends on the help one receives, basically it all depends on that. And I have received a lot of help, which is also doesn't depend on me. How could I be proud of receiving help from others? I often had the feeling, that I should be the person helping, not the one receiving help. And I have a lot more understanding of people in need.

As the mission is finished, it might be the end of my travel, I am considering giving up writing. What's next? I intend to work for a while, a year, maybe two, hard to say, there might be not that much to write about. Later on... I used to think I would come back by flight to Europe. Hitch-hickers I've met -Maciej and Mike, who independently from each other are somewhere in Australia want to travel around the world. So they will probably sooner or later try crossing the Pacific. I might join them... but I might also go back to Asua first, there's so many countries there that I would want to visit... but maybe it will be "the end". I don't know, I just came to Australia. If I am to carry on traveling later on, I will -for sure approach taking flights, not everything has to be done "for free". And I have much more confidence to try doing things, crazy things...

22nd December 2012

Melbourne. Under 4000 km took me 6 days of hitch-hicking. Not impressing as I tried to constantly be on the move, at least it's working and I made it here. People are scared here, I don't understand this. There are stories here about how dangerous hitch-hicking is, but it was hitch-hickers who suffered in these stories. I thought that if Australians travel so much they would have a better understanding of people traveling and have more imagination, be more helpful. Anyway I'm glad I made it. On the way the brakes of one of the trucks went on fire, apart from that no big stories to tell. It rained a bit, besides there were nice views, the country is pretty much uninhabited. It was a pity to see all these kangaroos on the road hit by cars -usually a result of driving at night.
I acknowledged the fact of being in a new country, but I don't feel "at home" here, at least not yet. I'll probably spend here "a while". the country is quite expensive comparing pretty much to all the places I've been to, but it's compensated by the salaries, which are said to be good...
Today I didn't make it to catch the ferry to Tasmania, generally I haven't seen much on the way, no visiting, there will be time for it later. I'm staying this night with a Polish family, they emigrated in the early eighties, they are very kind, wish I could spend here more time, but tomorrow I'm leaving...

18th December 2012

Somewhere in the Northern Territory, Australia. Yesterday I arrived at the Darwin airport at 3am. First impression rather dissapointing. I had such a thorough "security check" lick nowhere else. And they claimed they found some drug traces, I wander were from. They guy who was interrogating me was a complete -sorry for the expression -idiot. I heard him whispering to his co-workers that I have been in Turkey, and in Iran twice (what he could tell from the stamps in my passport), what made me seem suspicious. Urgh.
Then I slept for while at the airport, and set off for the highway. I had to wait for a long while, and all the lifts I had were rather short, and on the first day I drove just 200 km. I wanted to beat down all those blokes who were saying that hitch-hicking is "no problem here". In the end a lady who gave me the last lift took me home, what saved the day. Besides I could have had a job there (in Pine Creek), but at the moment I have different priorities. Today wasn't too good either, but in the end I found myslef on a truck going to Brisbane.
I heard it's the raining season now, but I haven't seen it raining, just like East Timor. The plan -the plan is to travel as fast as possible across Australia to Melbourne get on a ferry to Tasmania, were I want to spend Christmas.

15th December 2012

Airplane. Mission failed. I went to the ferry office yesterday, there are no direct passages to Papua. Cargo ships -most likely I'd have to go through Surabaya (so come back to Java, I've heard about it a few times), it's far I don't like going backwards. Passenger ships are slower than I expected, and it would take more than one to get to Papua. There even were two ships going to the Malukas yesterday - one was going 3 days, the other 5- they usually go every few days. That would mean a much longer time of traveling than I expected. Traveling across Papua in this fashion would be a matter of months not weeks. So I changed my mind, and I'm flying. No direct flights from here to Australia, today I'm flying to Bali, tomorrow to Darwin (anyway it cheaper than a direct flight from Dili). I have a feeling it's the right choice. Now there is some dissapointment in me, and anger, but in the current situation I do not regret the choice. It's time to get a job and give my parents a brake :) Also time to get more energy, and maybe gather some money for my own vessel? ;)

13th December 2012

Kupang, Indonesia. The day before yesterday I finally left Dili. There's a lot of organizations carrying help in East Timor, many sponsored cars, but they didn't want to help people traveling like myself. If I had a lift it was usually by an Indonesian. Yesterday I crossed the border, I had an overstay of over a month, but I didn't pay the penalty (150$), I heard I'll have to pay it double when I come back. Not very likely to happen. The borderman said it was the first time for an Australian to have an overstay (as I'm traveling on my Australian passport now). I guess that show what kind of Australian I am or am not Later on I got a lift from an Javanese bloke, he was so nice I had some suspicions. He turned out to be a good muslim with two wives. He kept me overnight, showed me around a bit, and finally forced to pay for my ticket to Kupang. I try not to take advantage of this kind of gifts, but it's hard to reject people. Here I arrived late. Dissapointment. No sailing boats. I'm going to the port tomorrow, we'll see what outcome it'll bring.

6th December 2012

All the reasons for staying in Dili have expired, but I am still here. I got lazy, I must admit.... Hitch-hicking is in general easy, maybe sometimes one has to wait, sometimes it's really slow, but still I have a lot of confidence, that it works. The problem is, that I were to travel to Papua, I would have to travel by ships, these are more difficult do hitch-hike, or by planes, which are even more difficult. Well... I announced I'm leaving in three days time (I feel like Frodo from the "Lord of the Rings" :)

26th November 2012

Three days ago I went for a control visit to the hospital, my foot didn't look very well (swollen). There I was directed to the "emergency room" where some Australian boys (students from Australia) had fun with knifes and made a few unnecessary cuts on my foot.  Now walking really became difficult. At the moment I'm fine, but I can tell that the stories I heard from my parents and their friends about the incompetence of Austrlian doctors haven't lost anything in their actuality (and I can tell, even before arriving there!), IU don't think I'll ever trust then ;) I'll probably go to a dentist when I go back to Poland.
Eventualy only today I launched my application for the Indonesian visa (45$ - that's a robbery!), I should have it in three days, so I should begin the Advent in Indonesia. Direction: Kupang, there I'll make up my mind what next. Either a passage to Australia or to Papua, my intuition is pointing I'll spend Christmas at the second place. I hope I wont have any problems when leaving this country, my overstay is over a month, I have no intention of paying the penalty.
Why did I spend so much time in East Timor? Many reasons, patience mainly, maybe fear as well. The fear is hard to tame, after every stopover I am a little bit uncertain. But I have learned not to think too much about the future. What lies out there? I don't know. Depends on the events which will happen, maybe flight, maybe Papua, maybe Solomon islands, maybe Vanuatu, maybe not. I must admit I did not have luck with the yacht. The welsh I've met two months ago, who was sailing to RSA and later on to Europe (with his wife) told me that somewhere from the western coast of Spain 90 people managed to get across the ditch to the Americas. If only he was sailing in the rigjt direction....

21st November 2012

This morning I came back to Dili, by an overnight ferry. It so happened, that it rained whole day and on the upper deck the tarpaulin was leaking. If I'm to continue traveling I will sell the guitar I keep on dragging with me since Malaysia. Too much luggage. I even started giving away some gifts, to much stuff, the luggage must be light.
In Dili I can see 2 new boats. It's hard to say what one may expect. If they don't take me, I'm living this place anyway, not going to be a volunteer anymore. Not sure which direction, and by what means, maybe a flight, maybe Indonesia, maybe Papua. Aside from that I've been to the doctor today and I received an antibiotic again (third time, just because of some ant-bites - most likely). Yes, I want to get out of here for sure. And it's so hot, however this country is beautiful (very picturesque).

9th November 2012

Oecusii, Timore Leste. Still. In this god-forsaken place I can't even control boats passing by, so I'll be back in Dili soon. We'll so what the situation looks like.
I have poor access to internet, however by that mean my family is putting some pressure on me to get on a flight. I must admit, that this though began crossing my mind now.

27th October 2012

Timor Leste. It's kinda strange I'm still here, just happened. It's two months already. For a few weeks I moved to Oecussi, which is a part of this country but it's an enclave in the western part of the island, surrounded by Indonesian territories. the only connection with the eastern part of the island (without crossing the border which is an expensive hassle), is a ferry going for 14h. It costs 4$ -they didn't want to sell me a ticket for that price, anyway I ended up going for free - as usual. It's a very poor place, I wander how's the local economy going to cope with the departure of all the UN staff. Just in this province there's 30 foreigners plus 50 locals earning really good money, what from are they going to make a living of? In the whole country containing one million people, one thousand works for the UN, and a person like this often upkeeping many relatives. It's really an interesting country.
There have been a few boats, all going in the wrong direction. One encounter was particularly inspiring, maintaing a boat is expensive and a hassle, but it would be so much easier to move around!

11th October 2012

Still Dili. I'm all right, but the heat is stealing all my energy. I am a bit scared of travelling from traveling eastwards. It is said that crossing Papua is not doable (by car at least, so one has to travel by planes), hot etc. etc. Leaving this place doesn't necessarily mean traveling far away, maybe I'll find some mean of transport to Australia from Indonesia?

28th September 2012

It's not easy with internet here, even if find it somewhere it's VERY slow. I changed the place of volunteering, but still teaching English. I was tired a bit. I was tired with travelling, and wanted to get to Australia - finally, but now I'm recovering and I've got energy to carry on... but it's so hot, and I don't think it's gonna be better in Papua. And it's probably gonna be more difficult to find a yacht there. Recently I caught some some infections - coughing, a cold, conjunctivitis (over), injuries don't want to heal (I can't swim now), so I got an antibiotic. Nothing to show of, just sharing my every-day reality, Maciej had similar stuff, but he's good now. Recently there have been no yachts in the harbour, but before I swam over once again, and I was invited on board by a charming welsh bloke for a coffee, unfortunately he was sailing towards Mauritius and South Africa... But the meeting was very promising and building hope for future.
It's a year and a half of traveling now, within that 6 months in SouthEast Asia. I feel like a begining traveler, in confrontation with some people I've seen almost nothing and had little adventures. I want more! :)

9th September 2012

Dili, Timor Leste still. Today something caught our attention. So far there were three sailing boats docked in the harbour, and now there is a forth one. There's no jetty, so we were waiting until someone will come ashore in a dingi. Finally I lost my patience, jumped into water, and swam over. Unfortunately the boat actually came from Darwin, and they're heading to South Africa. But there is a storie going around, that there will be yachts at the end of the month, however the season for sailing to Australia is actually said to be in November. At least that's what they say. I don't like passive waiting. Since a few days ago I'm a volunteer, teaching English, so at least I have a place to stay, food to eat, and opportunity to do something usefull. However there is a fought in my head to go travelling to Papua, anyway I'll try to hold on to this place end eventually catch a lift to Australia.
It's a good opportunity to mention a few words about the country. Until 1975 it was a Portugese colony, later on brutal Indonesian occupation (however the Timorese were brutal for themselves as well), finally a referendum in 1999, and from 2002 independence.  There are international interests clashing here, there are Chinese, Americans, Australians. Not until the end of this year the local police will take over the responsability of keeping the country in order, at the moment there are still international police in control (UN). There are big oil resorces here, so potentially the country is rich, and the GDP is growing quite fast. But the common people are living poorly, and for a random meal we pay usually around 1.5 USD (bit more than in Indonesia). People don;t have initiative here, just waiting for employment, and all the business is usually ran by the Chinese minority.

3rd September 2012

It's almost a week in Timor Leste. Beatifull country, very picturesque, villages with thatched roofs it's poor. The prices are much lower than we've heard (there's many foreigners form NGO's UN and others who make the prices rise). It's hot and dry. Yesterday we came back from a trip to mount Ramalau  -the highest peak in Timor (almost 3000m), the sunrise was truly beautifull. So far no boats to Australia. We arrived just a little bit to late to try catching a boat participating in the "Sail Malukas" most likely we'll have to wait for a while. We're looking for some kind of volunteer job, to spend time usefully and cut spending. That means a stop. On one hand I am a bit tired with travelling and looking forward to getting a job in Australia, recovering financially, but on the other one - I'd love to go to Papua. From PNG to the northern coast of Australia it's just 100km, to the islands even less... doable even in a kayak... but it's a long way from here, like this one could never stop...

23rd August 2012

Kupang. Things aren't going very well, it's our sixth day here, only today the East Timor Consulate was open. We'll get the visa on the 27th of August(Monday), our Indonesian visa expires on the 26th... All because of Indonesian Independence Day -the 17th of August, after which they have a week off. There is said to be a penalty 200000 rupiah (20USD) for each overstayed day. Well, the plan is to make a fuss on the border, it's not our fault. It's a pitty we hadn't know about it before, because Kupang is far from being the fanciest places, and altogether we'll have to spend here 9 days.

17th August 2012

We didn't manage to hitch a flight, as both were full, but it seems possible. Finally it appeared there was a ferry from Maumere to Kupang. We had to wait a few hours - instead of 5pm as we were told it arrived at midnight, and left at 3am, but we managed to get a free lift thanks to a  very nice lady at the port. We've been waiting for a few hours first at the airport, then for the ferry, basically we've been waiting all day. I was trying to be relaxed, but there was some pressure "will we manage", and I felt very tired in the end. However my knowledge of Indonesian gave me some confidence.
It's the first passenger ferry we've hitch-hicked, other ones carried cars as well, were smaller, and operated on daily or hourly basis. It's huge, reminded us of India. Crowds, people sleeping everywhere and incredibly dirty. Just 15 hours and we made it to Timor -Kupang. Before we got on that ferry there was another on, but going to Sulawesi (the journey would take 36 hours). It was tempting to get on it, although it's the wrong direction. I have a feeling that the journey is coming to an end (we'll see if it is so, the Timor island is close, but it might take some time to get across). Although there has been a longing in me to settle down somewhere for a while, it will be a pity to leave Indonesia. The range of things which I would consider as possible is much broader now. Especially in Indonesia, everyone is helpful here, even -or maybe especially- the police, it happened to sleep on a police station, or that they organized us a sleeping place, shared their food or drink. I have a feeling that my skin coloure gives us an advantage. Apart from being taller from a common Indonesian and having trouble with finding the right shoe-size, I feel treated as someone better. I don't feel comfortable with that, but that's the way things are here, white people have respect, especially here, but I think this applies to other countries as well, that thing are easier because we are from Europe.
A reflection regarding hitch-hicking - sometimes one arrives in a new country and wanders "what's it gonna be like" looks for information in internet, and it's difficult to get these information. I have a feeling, that everything (almost) is possible, however in most places in Asia it's advisable to make sure we're travelling for free. I've heard stories about Australia, that hitch-hicking is illegal there, until I met people who have been traveling there in this fashion, and I know now it's no problem.

15th August 2012

Maumere, Flores. The whole island has 700km length in roads, but they're very curly, and the cars are slow. No problem with accomodation, there's always someone helpful. Only today we weren't that lucky, here many people say the word "money" waiting for a donation -it happens in touristic places, where tourists want to "help" the locals. Eventually we end up sleeping in a church. Plan for tomorros -hitch a flight, to Kupang, if it's anywhere possible it must be possible in Indonesia. If we don't manage -we'll go for the ferry from Larantuka. The information we're receiving about the ferries to Timor are a bit irritating, everyone is saying something else it's all misleading. Someone said before that the ferries go daily, apparently it seems it just twice a week. We have to leave Indonesia by the end of next week, so in Kupang we're gonna look for a boat to Australi, or most likely organize a visa for East Timor. Hitchhicking is easy, but as anywhere else in Asia - it's good too make sure the ride is for free.

11th August 2012

Ruteng, Flores. We were thinking were to sleep, entered some office, and we said (in Indonesian) we're looking for free accomodation. One of the employees invited us to his house it was very nice. Then they took us to some birthday party. Flores is an island where Catholics are a majority. People have here a strange custom of burying their relatives near the house. So the guy introduces me his father presenting his tomb...
Yesterday we were invited for a night by an English teacher, and we ended up on a local wedding party. Hmmm they celebrate it differently. Many people (700), all dance together, but not in couples, all following same steps.
By the way worth mentioning -we made it to Flores yesterday morning, we were supposed to take the ferry on the day before yesterday in the morning from Sumatra(Sape), but it was broken, so we had to wait till the evening. A free ride again... awesome country :)

8th August 2012

Sape, Sumbawa. This island is nice, although it's just a transit place for most people. Only in the south-eastern part of the island we (since three days ago I'm traveling again with Maciej, whom I met in Malaysia before) have met some surfing Australians. I wanted to try it as well, the attempts I've made in Padang (Sumatra) weren't satisfying. Didn't get to surf much this time, the waves were much bigger, and the first one broke my board. I enjoyed the moment tossing around in the water, that moment caught me, now I'm really attracted by the sport. It's not the end of my surfing adventure.
Tomorrow we're getting on the ferry to Flores. Although everything is going fine, I am a bit worried, as there's only one ferry daily, will we manage to get on it for free?

5th August 2012

Sumbawabesar, Sumbawa. Today I hitch-hicked another ferry, was easy, it gives confidence, that later on it will also be fine. I wanted to come over yesterday, but on my way I was invited for "nasi" -which means rice - braking fast, later on even for the night. It was very nice, they waned me to stay longer, but the time is urging. Before I was on the southern coast of Lombok - beautifull, but not so great for surfing. The beaches reminded me the ones I've seen in Australia as a child - so there's nothing to wait for. This night I'm spending in the drivers house, all good.

2nd August 2012

Mataram, Lombok. I didn't expect I would find two catamarans in Bali which would be going to Australia. When I reached the marina in Bali and I found out that on the same day one boat was setting of for Australia I was really excited. But they weren't aware whom could they have they taken with. So I made a "jump" on the following island - Lombok. I have a Couch-host in Mataram, although the city is not so interesting. "Puasa, puasa" - everywhere people make remarks that it's the fasting time, so all one can do is adjust and not eat during the day, or eat secretely. I wanted to try surfing once again, so I'm not going to the north of the island, but to the south -towards Kuta.

30th July 2012

Yesterday I made it hitchhicking to Bali. I don't really have a place to sleep, so I'll probably move on quickly to the next island. It seems there are no possibilities of catching a boat to Australia, so I'll be heading to Timor. Good news from the drivers -from island to island -Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, until Flores there are ferries caryying cars, so shouldn't be difficult. Just the jump from Flores to Timor -to distant to be worried about it.
It's hard to say anything about Bali, I've been here around 20 years ago as a small kid, but I don't remember much. Only as a homeless I feel a bit isolated on a tourist island, I felt more comfortable in Jawa. There are no muezzins calling for prayer -a year ago when I was entering Turkey for the first time, it was such en exotic experience. Later it was irritating, now I miss it -it's Ramadhan!

27th July 2012

Eastern end of Java, this morning we've seen the mountain Bromo, it appeared to be a "must see sight" for all tourists (bleee). Yogjakarta I had to leave quickly, I simply don't have enough time to see all I want. I'll have to come back. Yesterday morning, a guy(with his girlfriend) made up his mind to do 300km just for me to also see the sunrise over mt. Bromo. On the way we picked up 3 Czechs, who also had different plans, it was nice, we rented a jeep to ride uphill, beautifull. Todays night will be on a beach, tomorrow I intend to search for a ship from Banyuwangi to Oz, if I don't succeed I'm going to Bali.

24th July 2012

Yogja, yesterday finally I left Bandung. A city where I didn't really plan to go to, and where I've spend a week. And if the visa would allow me I would stay longer, precious encounter. I wish I could spend here whole Ramadhan (maybe with some trips to the sea to surf). If anyone wants to go to Indonesia -get the visa before in the embassy, the visa "on arrival" insufficient, the country is bigger and more interesting than it seemed. Definetely one of the most interesting I've been to (maybe also because it's not so popular). Now I have to hurry up, if I don't get a boat from Bali to Oz I have just a month to get to East Timor...
In Bandung I've started Ramadhan :) there where doubts when should it start (Friday as in many Muslim countries, or Saturday -finally, it's said to depend on the moon or stars...). Ramadhan is not just about fasting, more interesting for me is the feast that follows the sunset, everywhere many boutiques selling food, some local or national specialities, very diverse and delicious. It's a pitty my visa is obliging me to hurry