First day in Jakarta! It is Wednesday! A quick breakfast with Nenad and Famega and then I accompanied Nenad where he had to print some brochures for a Party tonight! Meanwhile, I was trying to arrange meeting the three girls that offered to meet for a drink or a walk. Unlike the rest of the world, Couchsurfing in Asia seems to be mainly populated by females! During my one day stay in Jakarta, I received messages from a lot of people. Very hospitable and welcoming place!
Nenad and I went to a shopping mall to distribute the brochures before we take the motorbike to meet "Connie". Between any two events I describe here, fill the gap with about one hour of biking.
Connie is an ambitious young Indonesian girl. Her outfit is not different from any European girl you meet in Italy or Spain. Her hair is well taken-care of and she strikes you from the first sight by her confident attitude. Since she has been waiting for an hour, we moved for a late lunch. The usual introductory conversations that becomes part of your daily routine when you backpack for enough time. Although it is the same and kind of boring, every new person has some new question or experience to relate to you. It was Connie, Nenad and I. Both didn’t to be getting along so well. I could clearly see that an not being surprised. Connie being a real estate agent and dealin with posh rich people all the time. Nenad being a person who likes to mingle with simple local people. The dreams of each, the lifestyle and the different attitudes in life shaped their conversation that was spiced by some sensitivity and polite criticism. I somehow found myself trying to stir the atmosphere every now and then to keep things under control.
Nenad wanted to show me the old town of Jakarta! Weather is not good and jakarta is too big for me! The traffic was the highlight beside Nenad dribbling other motorbike and cars with his Honda like Lionel Messi. We went to the old town for a quick stroll. A lot of stalls selling everything. A lot of tattoo stands in the street if ku fancy top-notch hyegenic standards! We sat down in a local cafe where workers yelled at Nenad inviting him to have a coffee! Then we went back to the south of the city!
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I come from Egypt. I know Chaos! Organized chaos or harmony in chaos are also other names. Riding in Jakarta was a fine reminder! I felt in the jungle because of the massive number of variables moving around us. There seem to be no general physicial low that govern how different vehicles move here. Nevertheless, it still flows! Probably not the fastest flow but it is in genera without accidents.
Space belongs to who redeems it first. Others respect precedence in occupying space. No hard feelings! We reached home. Showered and cleaned and then went o Beehive, the cafe where Nenad works on organizing live events! A cute band of young Indonesian musicians! We had drinks and dinner and exchanged a few conversations.
Then we went to the Wednesday couchsurfing meeting where also a Christmas party was taking place. Nenas warned me that local girls will approach me because I am a foreigner. I believed him bit didn’t expect that the first girl k meet wraps her arms around my neck to whisper her name in my ear. A pity she wasn’t pretty. Not even OK. I mingled among people. Small talks here and there till I met Connie again. We talked at long. Discussed our earlier meeting and her and Nenad. It is enjoyable when you meet people thy you will probably need meet again (Although life has taught me that you will probably do). The lower the probability of meeting someone again, the easier it is to speak your mind out.
We left around 1:30 am. Nenad giving me all his advices about hitchhiking tomorrow! A decision that lead to a series of unexpected events!
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