A Drive Through the Kampung

Yesterday Helen and I set out with Ferry to find a wood carving place he thought we would enjoy. We drove for an hour or so and saw parts of the city neither of us had seen before. As is often the case here, the “getting there” is as interesting as the destination itself.

street within kampung (notice width of street and pavement drop off)

The most enjoyable part of the day (for me) was driving through a kampung. Although a kampung is technically a “village” or “community,” most of the ones here might be considered more of a slum. The poorest Indonesians live in kampungs and they are extremely crowded, old and dirty by western standards. In fact, the others I have walked through were just very narrow alley ways, not wide enough to drive a car on.

woman winnowing rice

school boys and grandmother

But for some reason, the kampung we drove through today was nicer than others we’ve wandered through. Inside the kampung, like everywhere else in the city, people are going about their daily lives - uniformed school children buying treats from the street vendors, people buying and selling, men repairing things, women toting babies. Though we are always “strangers in these parts,” most folks don’t seem to object to our presence. Kids are often shy at being photographed, women appear either pleased or embarrassed and men generally seem to like it. Most people will return a smile or a wave with the same.

walking home from school

these little girls posed for me while Ferry was getting directions

man with mother hen and baby chicks (already out of picture)

a graceful dance as the rice dries

close up of rice drying in the sun

three generations?

boy at family store

We drove on very narrow streets, having to creep when meeting an oncoming car to avoid sideswiping each other or dropping into the ditch. At one point we had to back into a drive in order to let an approaching truck pass.

jamu salesman selling off back of motor to lady with baby

I finally got up close and personal with a tukang jamu (medicine man) selling on the side of the road. I hopped out of the car to snap this photo. Believe it or not, we were offered (and tried) jamu last weekend at the Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta. The mix I tasted was supposed to strengthen me and relieve tiredness. It was ultra sweet, thick and had sort of a "burn" to it (probably the ginger?) Ok, so now I've tasted durian and jamu. I can check those two off my list!