Indonesian Bus Journies....to Wonderful Wonders

I went on an epic journey yesterday, instead of using my return ticket to Padangbai in Bali, I bought a ticket on an AC bus through Mul's brother going to Probolinggo in Java. Probolinggo is the platform for forays to Mount Bromo (by 4x4 I hasten to add!!).

The bus was lovely and big and AC, it's still a local service though, so I was the only Westerner on board. I was slightly concerned when I read 'Primitive Service' emblazoned across the side of the bus.....and even more concerned at the huge crack that spider-webbed across the entire right side of the windscreen....right in front of the driver. Noone else seemed concerned though, so I settled down and we set off.

It was a bus-ferry-bus-ferry-bus journey encompassing Lombok, the whole of Bali, and part of East Java. The first ferry was fun, we arrived at the port and were told that we couldn't get on a ferry until after 10pm, it was only 8pm. The bus turned the AC off and it was so hot that most people chose to mill around outside rather than stay on it....there wasn't much to do in the dark and so I mostly stayed on the bus and sweated it out.

At about 11pm we finally boarded the ferry. I had to take my big bag and so when I walked on looking hot and bothered....and conspicuously white....I was offered a cabin. Huzzah! It wasn't much, but it was private and had a bunkbed...I could have a nap. So I settled in and down for a few winks. I heard some strange noises whilst half asleep, but didn't think much of it, the whole ferry was groaning around me.

3 hours later my alarm went off and I groggily climbed down from the top bunk and turned on the light.....only to see a rather large furry body and pink tail disappearing under the bed.OMG!!! I tiptoed to my bag and found that the little bastard had been into my bag and nibbled through the little sealed watercup that I'd been given earlier with my lunch...all into my bag.....joyous.

There were also a couple of rather large cockroaches on the wall near where my head had been.

Iz niiice.

I still stuck around in the room....it was actually preferable to being outside and hanging around with nowhere to sit. I installed myself on the top bunk, keeping one eye on Colin and his mate, and watched the ferry approach the harbour....whilst thinkinng of all the rat-bourne diseases I could look forward to. I kept hearing squeaking, it may have been from the ferry, but I imagined a nest of hungry rat-babies under the bed. Cute.....not so much.

So, back on the bus for the journey through Bali. It wasn't long before we hit Ubung station in Denpasar, and there we stayed....for 2 hours. Apparently there was something wrong with the engine. I was getting some amused looks, being sat outside the bus amongst a bunch of Indonesian guys, all of us looking folornly at the 3 men trying to fix it.

It was at this point I realised what a novelty I was. Sure, all the kids had been running down to the front of the bus to stare at me.....repeatedly, but apparently westerners NEVER use this service. Various passengers came up to me to chat, always the same questions:

Where are you from?

How long have you been in Indonesia?

Where have you been in Indonesia?

What do you think of it?

At this point the language barrier usually takes its toll. One guy came and shared his sweets with me, which was nice! Eventually we were back on the bus and driving through some of the most beautiful areas I've ever seen. I need to take time to come back and see Bali properly. I was dreadig the next ferry crossing from Bali to Java, but to my surprise the coach drove straight on and the ferry was lovely. The drive to Probolinggo from there was also relatively uneventful, and punctuated by a lovely Balinese guy who came up to me whilst we were at a rest stop and gave me great kudos and respect for travelling 'like the locals do'. This guy had been drinking rum from about 2pm until late the day before, and had managed to miss his flight to Sulawesi, so he was bussing and boating the whole way....nutter.

Finally I was dropped in Probolinggo and booked my trip to Bromo which was stunning.....except for the fact that I was being picked up at 2:30am.....and my alarm didn't go off. So I was rudely awoken by banging on my door at 2:22am. Joyous. Was it worth it for this though?

Yes it was :o)