Whirlwinds of diverse and tantalizing sights and sounds have hypnotized our senses in the first two weeks here in the land of Indonesia. Upon arrival in Jakarta, swallowing the warm, humid, thick air of a polluted and overpopulated hub, we found ourselves standing at the outer most exterior layer of this multifaceted place. A drastic contrast and imbalance is blatant between the commercialized skyscrapers on one side of the car, and the slums hiding beneath the highway on the other. After two days of catching sleep stolen from us by a 22-hour flight, we quickly made our way to Jogyarta. There we visited two world heritage sights, the remaining symbols of two of the oldest religions that helped shape these people: Hinduism and Buddhism.
The first monument was Borobudur, a grand architectural masterpiece that was concealed beneath volcanic ash for centuries. It is a true testament of the enduring power of the Buddhist Candi (temple), that even when buried it did not self-destruct. The stories depicted on the walls of its narrow winding corridors, intricately carved in stone, tell the stories of civilizations past. The lessons are everlasting as they are carrying emotions ranging from anguish, triumph, hard work and harmony with nature, to the meditating Buddha. Serenity seeps from the cracks in between the old stone, with each rock placed in its right place so long ago. The Hindu equivalent of this ancient house of worship is Prambanan. Both speak of a time when buildings were narratives and taught morals to be passed on through time, built with care and purpose. Visiting the Sultan’s palace was a learning experience of the national sentiments of this country. Observing how the roof of the Indonesian gathering hall is held up by the pillars of “Unity in Diversity”, with symbols of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam depicted in gold. A lucky chance performance of the ancient Gamelan set the tone of dark entrancement and deeper discovery to come.
After lifting the cultural veil, we dug deeper by watching the sunrise over Mount Bromo. Peering into the core of this active volcano, with its escalating steam reaching for the sun, the blessing of being in the presence of such sheer natural power was possessing. Upon making an offering to the volcano by throwing flowers into its rapturous pit, we sent down our wishes that with the new decade at hand, humanity would come to accept the beauty of the natural world and take it upon ourselves to preserve it.
Continuing to chase the sun, its throbbing unforgiving rays led us to the desolate and tiny island of Gili Meno, off the west coast of Lombok. With a population of only 300 local permanent residents, it is truly a rare sweet spot of this earth. White sand beaches are caressed by crystal clear waters, shimmering an array of baby blues and dark turquoise, luring us to delve deeper once again into the underwater world of coral and marine life. The captivating wonder of this world was humbling. Javid was learning his underwater capabilities quickly, and dedicated many hours to capturing the vibrant patterns of coral and fascinating creatures such as the sea turtle! With mass dynamite fishing having demolished many areas of the reef, and humanity’s continuous denial of its rapidly increasing destruction of the underwater world, it is truly a precious opportunity to have soaked it in with the naked eye. The welcoming and free spirits of the island’s people warmed our hearts and for those interactions with them we say ilhamdulilah.
Almost half way into our journey, the lingering sunset of Meno bids us farewell as we head into the heart of Indonesia’s natural world: Borneo’s thick rainforest. As one of the most biodiverse regions it hosts one of the last Orangutan habitats and is anticipated to be a wild experience. A week trek on a Klotokt (canoe) on the Sungai Kumai River alongside the crocodiles is the adventure at hand, and we are extremely excited to begin. Weather permitting the end destinations of this trek are the villages of the indigenous Dayak tribes.
As for the remainder of the program, diverging from the original path to Irian Jaya (Papua) is for good reason. Research conducted since our arrival has compelled us to head towards the island of Siberut, off the west coast of Sumatra. There we hope to be able to meet with the mysterious and untouched Mentawain tribe inhabiting the land to implement the first step of Apo Calypso’s model, relationship building, and to spread the message of friendship and collaboration. Gifts such as the Massai beads and Eagle feathers from the St’at’imc nation will help facilitate an exchange of ideas and trust. Furthermore, we have been asked by the St'at'imc nation that is hosting the 2010 International Indigeneous Gathering to extend them an invitation to attend and participate in this event. It is an honor for Apo Calypso to deliver this message in person.
Onward and Upward
Terima Kasih for your support in Indonesia
Apo Calypso Productions
Javid Gibson
Cam Boatmen
Rawan Risheq
1 comment:
beautiful photographs
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