Forest People

"Orang" = "person"
"Utan" = "forest"

Monday morning we visited the Bohorok Orangutan Center's feeding station.  They feed the orangutans at 8:30 am and 3:00 pm each day.  We met Raman headed to the Center, but first we had to get across the river.

The ferry doesn't hold very many people at once.   Sarah and I went first and then snapped some pictures of David coming over.

It's a very quick trip.  We got our permits, took a hike uphill to the feeding station and settled in to see who would come.

Feeding time is only for 1/2 hour.  Then we all go our separate ways.  We were going on a 3- hour trek through the jungle, with Raman as our guide.  The rain forest is an amazing place.  And we were lucky to see two more orangutans in the wild.

Banana Break

At the end of our trek, we walked through a grove of rubber trees.  This is how the rubber is collected from the tree.  A strip of bark is cut diagonally, and a bowl is attached to the tree.  The rubber slowly drips into the bowl.

We came out of the jungle overlooking the town of Bukit Lawang.

Bukit Lawang and The Jungle Inn

On Sunday, we left Banda Aceh by plane for Medan.  The flight is about 45 minutes.  We were on our way to Bohorok Orangutan Center.

http://www.orangutans-sos.org/visit_sumatra/bohorok_orangutan_centre/

Once again, Sarah had done the research and found a place for us to stay, including arrangements to get there.  We were met at the airport by Raman, whisked off to a car driven by another man whose name I didn't get - he never spoke the whole 2 hour drive, Raman is the guide and he did all the talking.  One thing I have no desire to ever do is to be the driver in Sumatra.  Again, the two-lane roads are filled with motorbikes and small cars, passing and honking, driving 3 abreast, passing on hills and curves.  This road had the added pleasure of very large trucks and many potholes.  We went from busy city of Medan to more city of Binjai to rural villages, through miles and miles and miles of Palm Oil Plantation to the town of Bukit Lawang.  We were let off at the top of a hill, told its a 10-minute walk to the Jungle Inn.  The sidewalk goes down the hill and then along the river.  Our lodging is the very last one on the road, nearest to the Orangutan Center.  Raman took our luggage and piled it onto his motorbike along with a friend to help him hold the luggage, and we started walking.  It was getting dark.  We were amazed when we arrived at the Jungle Inn, our room is at the very top.

The Jungle Inn serves meals, it was time to eat.

Chicken Pineapple Curry

Chicken Jungle Inn Style

Vegetable Curry

Here's the view out our window the next morning.

 And breakfast, of course...

Yoghurt with mixed fruit and honey

Yoghurt with mixed fruit, muesli, and honey

Banana Pancake

Raman is taking us to orangutan feeding center at 8:00, and then for a 3-hour hike through the jungle.

Lampu 'uk

So.  There is a beach in Banda Aceh.  On Saturday, Sarah arranged to have a driver take us to the beach, it's a half hour drive from the city.  The driver picked us up at the hotel, drove us to the beach and waited there for us until after sunset.  We strolled up the beach, had a beer at the one restaurant (which is very nice), went back down to the water to watch the sunset.  It was unbelievably gorgeous.  I think Sarah made some arrangement with the sunset-maker for our last night in Banda Aceh.

These bungalows are overlooking the beach.

Bats fly out of these caves at sunset.

Since the Acehnese people have no interest in lolling around on a beach, they bring their cows here.  Yes, these are cow droppings.  We stayed away from them.

 Thank you, Sarah!  

After watching the sunset, we went to a party to belatedly celebrate Australia Day.  I don't remember seeing those wavy lights in the room... but it sure makes the room look festive!  Australians sure know how to party!

Coming up:  on to the rain forest!!

Catching up - Sabang again

We are home now, feeling a bit jet lagged, and I need to pick up where our story last ended and share the rest of the trip.  Last time I put pictures up we were in Sabang in the drizzle, totally relaxed and enjoying the tropical paradise and the gourmet food.

I did not take pictures of the food the second night either, but I did take notes when Freddie introduced the meal

Asparagus Soup
Vegi Cakes
Beef marinated in a tomato based sauce
Potatoes with garlic butter
Stir Fry Veg - cauliflower, broccoli, carrots
Cucumbers in turmeric and other spices
Greek Salad
Something called Kopar (?) with a cheese sauce
Dessert - Orange Zest Cake

Remember, all this for about $7.20.  Amazing.  And delicious.

The next morning (Saturday), we were to catch the ferry back to Banda Aceh, so we had an early breakfast (6:30).   Freddie was up and cooking.  Freddie works hard.  It was pouring down rain again, which was probably a good thing for if it had been clear and sunny we would have been sad to leave.

There were other guest taking the ferry also, so we all piled into a car.  The windows were all steamed up due to the rain and the humidity, we couldn't see out very well, but that did not prevent the driver from driving like a madman in a race to the finish.  He couldn't see out very well either, he kept wiping a spot in the windshield to peer out of.   The rain was coming down and the road was crowded with cars and motorbikes.  People were taking children to school in the rain, kids on the backs of motorbikes were underneath the poncho of the parent driving.  So it was another crazy drive, passing cars and honking horns the whole way.  We got to the ferry with plenty of time.

Sarah met us in Banda Aceh, where it was sunny.  We went back to her house.

Sarah's street

Sarah's house

The motorbike garage

By the time we were ready to go check back in to Hotel 61, it was raining.  We required two becaks for the ride, because we each had a bag with us from our little trip to the island.

 I took this picture from inside my becak, can you see David in there?

 Actually, it was quite comfortable - and dry inside!

This banner, and many more, were lining the median across from the hotel.  The letters are made from plastic flower petals, I'm told this is a tradition in Aceh.  The banners are very attention-getting!

Orangutan

On our way home

We left Indonesia this afternoon.  Will be posting pictures as soon as possible.  Currently at airport in Kuala Lumpur.