Bukit Lawang
Trip Start
Jan 2003
1
80
200
Trip End
Dec 2003
Bukit Lawang,
Indonesia
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Inertia set in this morning and the thought of more hiking was not an attractive one. we consequently took the soft option of rafting all the way back - for two quid. The raft actually consisted of four inner tubes tied together and carried six of us (Kirsty, Elle, one guide, two assistants and me) plus our luggage back to Bukit Lawang in an embarrassing time of less than an hour putting our 'marathon' efforts of yesterday to shame. Tubing in Sumatra however differs from its Lao counterpart. There were plenty of rapids and we all got thoroughly drenched. It's also not just a tourist thing either as numerous young Indonesian couples could be seen walking up the river for a date with an inner tube. While this mode of transport afforded our aching limbs a rest it also had the added bonuses of no mosquitoes and the sight of a group of gibbons play-fighting on the rivebank.
The trek while knackering and despite the insects has been a great introduction to Indonesia. We wanted Sumatra to be a more challenging and therefore rewarding place before heading to Australia and after the relative simplicity of Singapore and peninsular Malaysia and so far it's come up trumps. Where else can a three day walk to your next destination be a viable alternative to the bus? We considered it! The people, while still after your money, are somehow generous at the same time as well as being friendly. They've entertained us with games, puzzles and card tricks and we're again finding the fact we've got a deadline (ie a plane to catch) a frustrating one. We're only going to see a fraction of a country that has much more to offer. Even after a couple of days I feel confidently enough to urge people to include Indonesia on their round the world trips - so many people inexplicably don't.
Comments
Indonesia Sumatra
I am so pleased to read you had such a great time in Sumatra and wished it had been longer.
Yes, so many travellers by pass Indonesia and they have NO idea what they are missing out on.
After 7 visits there since 1997 and one of those visits including my 5.5 months in June-Dec 2006 I still do not tire of the place and hopefully will be back in 2008.
Thanks for your great blog-brought back lots of memories for me. I spent 5 weeks in Bukit Lawang 2006 and did a 5 day side trip to Tangkahan- what a paradise.
Pamela Joy Fuge Sydney Australia