In search of the dove

We’ve spent the last week in the big mixed salad bowl of Indonesia. Even though it’s a mostly Muslim country, there are a myriad of other cultures, languages, and ethnicities. It was hard to put my finger on what Indonesian culture really was, but it was fun to see, taste, and experience the variety.

Our visit commenced with a familiar and friendly face. Martin, a friend whom we met in Vancouver, just so happened to be in Jakarta during the time that we were visiting.  We had the luxury of being picked up at the airport instead of having to navigate ourselves through the sea of hungry touts at the arrivals gate. Correction - as we found out soon enough, we were greeted by Martin, but actually picked up by his driver! Martin, why did you pretend to be a lowly student in Vancouver when you have your own personal driver at home? We didn’t have any plans for our time in Jakarta so we were perfectly content tagging along with Martin while he ran his errands, but also seeing some sights, and tasting some local dishes along the way. It was a really nice way to experience a new place and to see Martin interact with his family and be in his natural environment.

Seeing Martin so comfortable and happy at home was a nice change of perspective to the travellers whom we’ve met throughout our trip. Usually, the people who you meet while travelling are those who are in search of something different. Whether it’s a new country, a new experience, or the next big adventure, they (and us included) are always looking for something new and stimulating. But I think that sometimes, what you really need, is to be surrounded by the familiar.  Martin told us that in Indonesia, the national pastime is taking care of birds. There are all sorts of bird competitions where owners take their prized pets out for showcase. There’s one competition where they set the male dove free to see how far and fast it can fly. In the end though, the male dove always flies back to the female dove no matter how far he flies. Maybe it takes some travelling around the world to realize that home is really where the heart is. 

Enjoying dinner with the Lesmana family - Jakarta, Indonesia

Finding ourselves in an unexpected adventure - Bali, Indonesia