After five days in Indonesia!

Dear friends,

I've started my fifth day in Indonesia quite tranquile. I'm a guest of my good friend Joost, who had to work today. So I had some time to wash clothes, prepare my trip for tomorrow when I will be heading on from Bogor to Yogyakarta and go into the city alone for the first time with my Wat & Hoe-dictionary...

Until now it has been GREAT. Warm, sweaty, traffic jam, loads of people, dirt, motorcycles, "Hey mister", very nice food but the best is the hospitality of Joost, Erik (two classmates from my time at Larenstein Forestry University). Together with Joost's girlfriend Widya and Erik's wife Dewi, we had a great time singing kakaoke, visiting the Bogor botanic gardens and their working space at PT Planters/GFU violin/geranium nursery and visiting a nice mountain area near Bogor, with cascades and hot springs. And first of all, they picked me up at the Jakarta airport when I arrived after a flight which was far too long...
Erik and Joost with some kids from the Kampung near the nursery. " Hey mister..."

Ancient Dutch soldier's/colonist's cemetery at the botanic gardens of Bogor

Since I am enjoying Joost's virtual hospitality now as well, I will make it short and just upload some pictures to give you an idea. And I have to go into town now, because at 18hrs it get's dark already!

Having a chique goodbye meal in Cafe Batavia in Jakarta, were the ancient Dutch colonists used to drink their cognac and trade.

Hope to be able to tell you more soon and best regards from Bogor, Java, Indonesia!

Jeroen

A very young cat found in Widya's street in Jakarta. We took it home and called it Manga!