Indonesia > Walking among the plantations

This morning I take it easy. I start the day with a dip in the swimming pool. The spacious pool is nicely situated among the bungalows and palm trees. I swim a few laps. After swimming, I go to the restaurant for an extensive breakfast. Part of the travel group left this morning for Sukamade to watch the turtles tonight. They won’t be back with the group until tomorrow. At ten o’clock, I go to a plantation just outside Kalibaru. The hostess welcomes me in Dutch. Children from the area have made small crafts from palm leaves. One of the boys walks straight up to me to pin one on me. He reaches out his hand, and together we walk onto the grounds. His name is Danu, and he introduces me to the other children who are coming along.

Indonesia - A tour through a beautifully arranged plantation

He gestures for me to go to a covered area. Only then do I realize that the rest of the group is not following. In the middle of the covered area is a table with various plantation products. Danu’s task apparently ends here, and without saying anything, he walks away. The man at the table begins explaining everything to me. I feel a little awkward—what is supposed to happen, and where has the rest of the group gone? After a while, the other travelers arrive. They had received some explanations from the hostess. Once everyone is together, the hostess, Mrs. Hanik, explains about the various products. The demonstration of opening the palm tree is especially impressive. The leaves are peeled off, revealing a kind of plume from the palm flower. Before entering the plantation, I am given a Vietnamese hat for sun protection and some mosquito repellent. I walk through the beautifully maintained plantation, examining the pepper, vanilla, nutmeg, ginger, peanuts, and much more. I return to the starting point via the rice fields. The children have made crowns and little pendants from palm leaves, and a small bouquet is raffled off. Afterwards, they perform a dance. Of course, everyone joins in dancing together. Danu comes straight to me to dance together. After visiting the plantation, I choose to walk back to the hotel—a distance of about ten kilometers. The itinerary had mentioned walking among the rice fields, which actually only referred to the plantation. By walking back, I still get a nice stroll through the surroundings. Sonny and Herman, two boys from the plantation, accompany me. Mrs. Hanik apologizes that neither of them speaks English or Dutch.

Indonesia - Apparently anything can be transported on a scooter

I think we’ll manage. Sonny walks ahead and Herman follows behind on a scooter, so they can return together to the plantation after I get back to the hotel. Sonny immediately turns right onto a path between the palm trees. Several people working there look surprised, and I greet them. At an asphalt road, we turn left, which I understand to be the village road—a narrow road parallel to the busy main road. It is mostly used by motorbikes and passes local houses. Everywhere people are outside or come out to watch tourists pass. Everyone greets me kindly. Women shout from a truck, which serves as public transport, wanting to be photographed. In a small river, children are playing. It’s clear that it is the middle of the day, and in the windless areas, it is very hot. In a small shop, I buy a cola and give one to Sonny and Herman. The path runs right along the railway and passes through the village of Kalibaru. Here, I deviate slightly from the route and walk with Herman through the local market. I see covered stalls, but also many already closed. From Herman’s explanation, I understand it is mainly busy in the mornings. I continue behind the station and through the poorer part of Kalibaru. The houses look run-down, and there is trash on the streets, but everyone is enthusiastic. It’s fun to experience local life this way. A little after three o’clock, I return to the hotel. I estimate that I have walked about twelve kilometers. I thank my two guides as they speed away on their scooter. I order a Bintang beer on the terrace and also a light lunch. I arrange for the lunch to be delivered to the pool, giving me a chance to shower and swim a few laps. While lying on my sunbed, my sandwich with fries is delivered.