After the last few weeks of international job interviews and two offers I am ready to choose the Dubai offer! So far the details of the contract are similar to the last job I had in Dubai. I have a few questions posed to HR and if everything checks out I'll be ready to call it a job search!
I've asked a lot of questions this time based on my last experience. :\
I suppose we all live and learn from our experiences and that makes us that much better for the next time around.
So now what? Well first things first... need to be sure I get my contract. Then check into booking my air ticket. After that I need to be sure things are in order with my paperwork and anything left to button up around home.
I can't wait to get back to Dubai the great land of sand! :) Hopefully not too much time in between getting started at the school and getting back into the gym.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Returned to Chicago
Well as I suggested in the previous entries I have return home to go ole Chicago. Home forever, will probably always be my favorite city on the planet. I've been to a lot of places on the globe, several countries but there is just something about home that is special.
My time in Dubai was cut short, not by my doing but by the system. I did however learn a lot about their ways and culture. I also learned a lot about international education. It's sad that there is such a system of for profit schools that give so many a bad experience. I have learned though, that in the future I will need to do my homework before accepting a job overseas.
Dubai itself was an awesome experience. I made good friends, and really loved the gym I was part of.
This weekend I'm attending an international job fair, with the hopes of trying international teaching one more time. I have several schools selected, and hope to land something this weekend. With any luck I may even return to Dubai, or the Middle East. I'm also interested in Asia.
So either way I will be in the Chicago area until at least August. So time to find a temp job or maybe subbing jobs.
This closes the blog. I will start a new one with my next experience.
My time in Dubai was cut short, not by my doing but by the system. I did however learn a lot about their ways and culture. I also learned a lot about international education. It's sad that there is such a system of for profit schools that give so many a bad experience. I have learned though, that in the future I will need to do my homework before accepting a job overseas.
Dubai itself was an awesome experience. I made good friends, and really loved the gym I was part of.
This weekend I'm attending an international job fair, with the hopes of trying international teaching one more time. I have several schools selected, and hope to land something this weekend. With any luck I may even return to Dubai, or the Middle East. I'm also interested in Asia.
So either way I will be in the Chicago area until at least August. So time to find a temp job or maybe subbing jobs.
This closes the blog. I will start a new one with my next experience.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Winding down in Dubai
Well I'm ending things here in Dubai. I really don't want to at all. However, reality has set in and I can't stay here any longer. Today I'm spending my last day at Burjuman Centre Fitness First, this is the first gym I attended here in the UAE. Tonight I will go to Deira City Centre Fitness First and complete my last Zumba in Dubai with my favorite teacher and sell my membership. That will be sad because I love the gym here in Dubai.
Tomorrow I plan to check out of my apartment, and then later in the day return the rental car and take a cab to the airport. I'll try to sleep there, but that likely won't happen. My fight is Monday morning at 8am. Once home I'll probably crash land in my bed, because at the point I would have been awake for nearly two days.
Lessons learned in Dubai (not an exhaustive list):
1. Driving here is at the risk of your own life and anyone else in the car with you or on the road around you. The speed limit signs of course are in km/h, which is find because the cars have the speedometer in km/h. No matter what the sign says you are permitted to go 20 km/h over the speed limit with no penalty. However, if you choose to drive in the left lane (you are crazy), be careful. The left lane is the Indy 500 of the UAE. Not only are you practically required to go at least 20 over you will likely experience a race car driver coming up behind you very closely flashing their lights and honking at you to move over so they can over take you, in stead of just going around you. They can get very upset if you don't move so they can pass. I found this quite entertaining actually, because once they are tailgating me, I would slow down even more. The police officer told me about the 20 over the limit idea so it's legal. Please be careful on the roads here!
2. Arabs/Muslims will always win in the legal system. No matter what happens if you are an expat chances are you will loose your case no matter how much evidence you have.
3. Speed is not of the essence here. Things take a long time here. Especially with the government, but even with the office at work things take a long time.
4. Insha'Allah is used religiously. Pun intended. Insha'Allah or God Willing is something one living here will likely hear a lot! When waiting for anything, or planning anything the locals will tell you Insha'Allah. Meaning they hope and pray that it may happen but if it doesn't God didn't want to happen anyway so it doesn't matter.
5. Prices are relative here. Keep in mind there is no tax of any kind, so prices may include a bit extra. Some examples:
Milk (2 litres) = AED 10
Cereal (350g box) = AED 10-17
Bread (loaf) = AED 7
Subway (6in meal) = AED 23
McDonald's (Big Mac meal) = AED 27
My apartment (furnished studio, with electricity, gas and water included) in a less desirable complex = AED 3400 / month
Gas = AED 1.72/litre ... this is a Arabia, land of oil. This a equivalent to $1.77/gallon!
The money used here in dirham, the currency here is pegged to the US Dollar. The exchange rate is and will always be: USD 1 = AED 3.67.
6. Most local people Arab/Muslim and other expats are VERY nice people! Other than the road ways, I can't really remember a time where I've been treated poorly. While hard for me, one must exercise patience while trying to communicate. For most here English is a second language which makes it hard some times. However, I have found that locals love to learn English from me rather then have trouble speaking it.
7. In a sense Dubai, and the greater UAE in general is a developing country. While they do have several fancy buildings, land marks and generally a lot of impressive things here they were all likely built on the backs of Indian labors run by foreign contractors and developers.
Last of the pictures on my camera:
Fog can slow this place down!
In Abu Dhabi, this was a geocache. Salt flats in the desert.
The dirham building in Abu Dhabi.
Next update likely to be the final regarding Dubai. :(
Tomorrow I plan to check out of my apartment, and then later in the day return the rental car and take a cab to the airport. I'll try to sleep there, but that likely won't happen. My fight is Monday morning at 8am. Once home I'll probably crash land in my bed, because at the point I would have been awake for nearly two days.
Lessons learned in Dubai (not an exhaustive list):
1. Driving here is at the risk of your own life and anyone else in the car with you or on the road around you. The speed limit signs of course are in km/h, which is find because the cars have the speedometer in km/h. No matter what the sign says you are permitted to go 20 km/h over the speed limit with no penalty. However, if you choose to drive in the left lane (you are crazy), be careful. The left lane is the Indy 500 of the UAE. Not only are you practically required to go at least 20 over you will likely experience a race car driver coming up behind you very closely flashing their lights and honking at you to move over so they can over take you, in stead of just going around you. They can get very upset if you don't move so they can pass. I found this quite entertaining actually, because once they are tailgating me, I would slow down even more. The police officer told me about the 20 over the limit idea so it's legal. Please be careful on the roads here!
2. Arabs/Muslims will always win in the legal system. No matter what happens if you are an expat chances are you will loose your case no matter how much evidence you have.
3. Speed is not of the essence here. Things take a long time here. Especially with the government, but even with the office at work things take a long time.
4. Insha'Allah is used religiously. Pun intended. Insha'Allah or God Willing is something one living here will likely hear a lot! When waiting for anything, or planning anything the locals will tell you Insha'Allah. Meaning they hope and pray that it may happen but if it doesn't God didn't want to happen anyway so it doesn't matter.
5. Prices are relative here. Keep in mind there is no tax of any kind, so prices may include a bit extra. Some examples:
Milk (2 litres) = AED 10
Cereal (350g box) = AED 10-17
Bread (loaf) = AED 7
Subway (6in meal) = AED 23
McDonald's (Big Mac meal) = AED 27
My apartment (furnished studio, with electricity, gas and water included) in a less desirable complex = AED 3400 / month
Gas = AED 1.72/litre ... this is a Arabia, land of oil. This a equivalent to $1.77/gallon!
The money used here in dirham, the currency here is pegged to the US Dollar. The exchange rate is and will always be: USD 1 = AED 3.67.
6. Most local people Arab/Muslim and other expats are VERY nice people! Other than the road ways, I can't really remember a time where I've been treated poorly. While hard for me, one must exercise patience while trying to communicate. For most here English is a second language which makes it hard some times. However, I have found that locals love to learn English from me rather then have trouble speaking it.
7. In a sense Dubai, and the greater UAE in general is a developing country. While they do have several fancy buildings, land marks and generally a lot of impressive things here they were all likely built on the backs of Indian labors run by foreign contractors and developers.
Last of the pictures on my camera:
Next update likely to be the final regarding Dubai. :(
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Burj Khalifa
Well these last few days have been very slow and lazy for the most part. Outside of my daily gym time, I've been sleeping a lot and watching too much BBC and CNN. LOL
As I prepare to leave Dubai, I made the obligatory trip to the Burj Khalifa finally. Anyone who visits Dubai must see the tallest tower in the world and the surrounding Dubai Mall. The tower is well over 800m tall and the mall is one of the largest in the world...it has a 10 story parking garage for one of its car parks.
It's the tallest building in the world on three different accounts, measures set by a "board of tall building people" ... not the official name, but something like that.
Chicago's contribution to the tall building activity has long ago been surpassed. It was fun while it lasted.
Dubai mall from above. It's huge, oh and it's 4 stories tall for the entire mall.
"The Address" fancy over priced hotel.
I'm on the 124th floor, and this is looking up! There is still a lot more tower to go! 36 more floors to be exact, and then there's the spire. If one looks closely you can see the spire in the center at the top.
This was on the outdoor observation deck. I found it very interesting that this gap in the window was open air! Haven't see that on a "super tall tower" before. *that's the actual category name for this tower.
More of the city, desert and the gulf!
The Dubai fountain from above, amazing at night. Bellagio has nothing on Dubai!
Amazing green screen pictures, I was too cheap. I was going to do a yoga pose on this thing. :)
Shot of the 10 story parking garage at the Dubai mall.
This is another hotel very close the Burj. It's so big you can see it along with the Burj from miles away!
This is for mom. This Toyota building used to be one of the only building in Dubai! 40 years ago it and the two roads next to it made up the skyline. My how things have changed!
Looking down from the 124th floor.
Over prices villas and shops near the Burj.
Well aside from closing up shop in Dubai I have been planning my return to the US. My flight leaves on Jan 28. I will be back in Chicago by 17:00. I have then planned a trip to the UNI job fair in Waterloo, IA. It's an overseas job fair, where more than 100 schools show up and offer jobs and interviews to people attending. I have several schools on my list to check out and possible interview with. Who knows it may bring me back to Dubai, or somewhere else totally different on the globe. All and all I think it will be good to go back to the US for little while and attempt to sort out this part of my life!
As I prepare to leave Dubai, I made the obligatory trip to the Burj Khalifa finally. Anyone who visits Dubai must see the tallest tower in the world and the surrounding Dubai Mall. The tower is well over 800m tall and the mall is one of the largest in the world...it has a 10 story parking garage for one of its car parks.
Well aside from closing up shop in Dubai I have been planning my return to the US. My flight leaves on Jan 28. I will be back in Chicago by 17:00. I have then planned a trip to the UNI job fair in Waterloo, IA. It's an overseas job fair, where more than 100 schools show up and offer jobs and interviews to people attending. I have several schools on my list to check out and possible interview with. Who knows it may bring me back to Dubai, or somewhere else totally different on the globe. All and all I think it will be good to go back to the US for little while and attempt to sort out this part of my life!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Back to Dubai
Made it back to Dubai yesterday about 9:30am local time. Passport control is always a nerve racking moment for me, not that I really have a reason for being concerned at all. It's just that they have so much power it's crazy. Especially after hearing what happen to my friend when she wanted to leave. Well after waiting in line for at least 30 minutes I was finally up to the clerk, and he said you're a teacher, where? I told him my last school. (I still have my visa at this point, so that info is still legally relevant). I decided to make it to the 13:00 church service, so I drove all the way out there. Got back went to Subway (I have no food at the apartment), eat that and crashed. I hadn't slept in the last 24 hours do to my crazy flight times and time zone changes. So when I got up at 5:30 and it was dark out I thought it was only a few hours later so I went to the fridge and grabbed all I had which was a wine cooler and finished it pretty quick along with some chips. Well as I started to read I wondered why my e-reader said it was 6:30am. I checked my phone and it agreed 6:30am. So it turns out I slept for 12 hours straight, it wasn't 5:30pm when I got up it was 5:30am! So I drank at 6am for the first time in my life. Oh well I lived. I made it the the gym this morning at 9am for yoga and enjoyed one of my favorite yoga teachers for a killer power yoga class.
I also spent some time responding to emails and checking other possible job leads. Nothing really. Opened up a line of communication, through networking, with a superintendent with a local international school. They don't have any openings right now, so I wasn't able to make much of it, although she was really nice and helpful.
So I'm thinking I need to set a deadline for the job search before I just give up and return to Chicago. I can't live here forever without a job, just can't afford it. At least back home I can stay with mom for a while if I need to. Not sure what date to pick, but I'm thinking the date my apartment lease expires which is Jan 18th. That gives me about two weeks. If I renew my lease, I'll have to run to Oman to renew my visa as well. Not sure I can handle it here with no job for that long, again. I learned I can't even get substitute work with out a visa.
Assuming my last job pays me as they should I'll have enough money for two more months. I also have to keep in mind I need enough money to pay for my return flight to the US which is about $900.
I also spent some time responding to emails and checking other possible job leads. Nothing really. Opened up a line of communication, through networking, with a superintendent with a local international school. They don't have any openings right now, so I wasn't able to make much of it, although she was really nice and helpful.
So I'm thinking I need to set a deadline for the job search before I just give up and return to Chicago. I can't live here forever without a job, just can't afford it. At least back home I can stay with mom for a while if I need to. Not sure what date to pick, but I'm thinking the date my apartment lease expires which is Jan 18th. That gives me about two weeks. If I renew my lease, I'll have to run to Oman to renew my visa as well. Not sure I can handle it here with no job for that long, again. I learned I can't even get substitute work with out a visa.
Assuming my last job pays me as they should I'll have enough money for two more months. I also have to keep in mind I need enough money to pay for my return flight to the US which is about $900.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Jakarta, Indonesia - Final Day
Jakarta has been interesting to say the very least.
Not really sure why I even came here in the first place, actually I do know. There was an article in a travel magazine that showed pictures of the lovely landscapes of Indonesia. Me forever the naturalist, had to check it out for my winter vacation.
So the trip was planned while I was still working at my last job. Paid for the flight and everything, booked the hostel and then found out I lost my job. Since it was already paid for I still visited Indonesia.
My flight took me from Dubai to Doha to Jakarta. I arrived at night which wasn't bad at all. I took Qatar Airways, and was very pleased. In the Jakarta (CGK) airport, it took a bit of ingenuity to get out of the airport. There are no signs that were helpful, nevermind English. Anyway I finally figured it out, and on my way out I was mobbed by people wanting to do things for me. Kids and adults a like wanted to take me wherever, they all wanted money! So I tried to remove myself from this mob and recheck my reference to which cab I should choose. The hostel suggested Blue Bird or Silver Bird, I went with Silver Bird..they were more fancy. The driver I guess understood where I wanted to go. It cost me nearly Rp. 200.000 (~$20) to get from the airport to the hostel. Checked in easily and made my way to bed. As hostels go, I've been to a number of them now, this is a nice place. Actually really nice. The price is Rp. 120.000 / night (~$12/night), which is nothing for everything they have here. If this were a hotel in the States, it would probably be a 2-3 star, and easily be $80+/night. However, in a hostel overseas you always get an international mix of people here speaking many different languages, here for many different reasons and headed in many different directions. Which is probably by far the best reason to stay in a hostel. Not sure where else this eclectic mix of people can be found, typically very young so most have a wide range of experiences.
So...what is there to say about Indonesia? It's definitely a developing country. While the modern conveniences are here, you have to find them for sure. The roads are in a disrepair due to the abuse from the many types of vehicles on them. The most common mode of transportation by far here in Jakarta is motorcycle. I swear there are probably more bikes here than people. They supplemented with motor-tricycles (high pollution machines) and finally traditional cars, trucks and vans. Given the amount of small engine vehicles here the pollution is very high. The people know this and it's not uncommon to see people (mostly women) wearing masks to cover their nose and mouth to try and not breath this highly polluted air. Some have fancy hand made masks, while others just have surgical masks. The air is very poor here, most of the time I coughed when traffic was bad. A few times my eyes got watery, and I used my hat over my mouth to try and breath better.
I think this added to what I'm going to call the "Indonesian Smell". There is an odor here, no matter where you go in the country (at least during my travels).
Another very common thing are the street vendors. There numerous people selling products on almost every major street, corner, alley, train station or place where people may gather. Most were the same, selling cigarettes, tooth paste, water, assorted food items and candy. Some also made "fresh" foods, others provided services - such as motor cycle repair or even tailoring. I think the number of people "making" food items has added to the Indonesian Smell.
I had a chance to check out the museums of culture, history and art. The Dutch rule of Indonesia, had a major influence on the country and it's past. There are several museums of history and culture, there are were also so other random museums. Such as the museum of banking, which oddly contained a whole floor of computer relics (there was a whole shelf of 5.25" floppy disks drives - this officially makes me old!). This was quite a nice set of history, the banking part was large. The building itself was an old bank building the basement was a large vault. It was odd to see how people would store their items in a metal cash box, that itself was in a vault with a one foot thick solid metal door. There was also a room that showed large gold bars stacked all in one room. The museums seemed to be placed around a large central square where people seemed to gather. The day I was there street performers where doing their thing. They were quite young, and it seemed to be a family thing. For some reason they enjoyed using a whip, probably because of the sound it makes and it constantly appeared they were smacking people with it.
Each day seemed to start with a walk to Carrefour to grab some sort of food items. I didn't eat well here at all. Although, each morning the hostel provided breakfast of a plate of fruit, and two slices of toasted bread. That was a good start, and then usually at Carrefour I'd buy a small container of milk and whatever else. Oh and the water here is not drinkable, so I was always buying a bottle of water no matter where I was. A few times I also bought a bottle of tea to change it up a bit. I also walked nearly everywhere I was here in Indonesia. That really helped manage my weight because when I left Dubai (where I worked out nearly everyday), I stopped working out. Not really anywhere to do anything. I walked multiple miles while here daily.
Getting around Jakarta is an experience. Since I chose to walk most of the time I had to risk my life walking down the street because there are very few side walks. Often a motorcycle would pass by, as well as motor-tricycles and cars where quite close as we all fought for our share of the road. There really are no rules for the roads here in Jakarta. It really is just every man on their own, and good luck to you! A few times I didn't want to walk any more so I hopped on a motor cycle and they took me where ever I wanted to go. Helmet? Haha. The only time I was given one, it was just for show because the strap was broken, another time I was told to just jump on. So that was interesting. Actually makes me want to get motorcycle though, they are quite fun and quick. Although mine will be bought with a fully functioning helmet, I don't want to die from cranial contact with a hard service that can easily be avoided. The angkot was another interesting experience. It's basically a miniwan that is always working. The driver goes from one point to another and back all day. It's like a bus in that you can get off where ever you want, yell "kiri" and the driver will pull over and let you off, anywhere. You hail one by standing any where along the route and the driver will pull over and you jump on. I noticed during my trips that the driver was always honking his horn to try and get people standing around to hop on (of course to make money). Quite a cool way to get around assuming you know where to get on and off. The ride was Rp. 2000 ($0.20/trip no matter the length), so very cheap. Yesterday I went to a sufari (zoo). The location was several miles away. I took the train to the last stop, over an hour to get that far Rp. 9000 ($0.95/ride), then one angkot Rp. 2000 ($0.20/ride), talked to locals onboard and they told me where to grab the next angkot Rp. 2000 ($0.20/ride). That one took me to the first entrance gate to the safari. So just over $1USD to travel nearly 3 hours through the Indonesian traffic. At this point I should have hired an ojek (hired motorcycle) to the final gate, it was a 6km walk! On the return trip I did just that, although the ojek didn't charge me he just took off. He must have just been happy to talk to a foreigner. Same return trip on "public" transportation.
So I guess I'm saying to get around here you need to have a sense of adventure, and willingness to let go of your western standards of safety. There are always taxis available too, but that's not nearly as fun, and it's much more expensive (of course that's relative).
I suppose if I had a good job here, and housing I may stick around. Indonesian seems like a language I may actually have a chance at. At least it uses the Latin alphabet, people are really nice and try to be helpful as possible in their very broken English. One of the first foreign countries I've been in where the population has very poor English. Typically when I visit a foreign place the locals have a decent command of English. I'd probably have a motorcycle rather than a car, I guess that depends too. It does rain a lot here. Since I've been here about every other day.
Jakarta - Day 6
I visited the Taman Sufari, Bogor, Indonesia. It's basically what we'd call a zoo in the States. Here are several pictures from my experience:
Not really sure why I even came here in the first place, actually I do know. There was an article in a travel magazine that showed pictures of the lovely landscapes of Indonesia. Me forever the naturalist, had to check it out for my winter vacation.
So the trip was planned while I was still working at my last job. Paid for the flight and everything, booked the hostel and then found out I lost my job. Since it was already paid for I still visited Indonesia.
My flight took me from Dubai to Doha to Jakarta. I arrived at night which wasn't bad at all. I took Qatar Airways, and was very pleased. In the Jakarta (CGK) airport, it took a bit of ingenuity to get out of the airport. There are no signs that were helpful, nevermind English. Anyway I finally figured it out, and on my way out I was mobbed by people wanting to do things for me. Kids and adults a like wanted to take me wherever, they all wanted money! So I tried to remove myself from this mob and recheck my reference to which cab I should choose. The hostel suggested Blue Bird or Silver Bird, I went with Silver Bird..they were more fancy. The driver I guess understood where I wanted to go. It cost me nearly Rp. 200.000 (~$20) to get from the airport to the hostel. Checked in easily and made my way to bed. As hostels go, I've been to a number of them now, this is a nice place. Actually really nice. The price is Rp. 120.000 / night (~$12/night), which is nothing for everything they have here. If this were a hotel in the States, it would probably be a 2-3 star, and easily be $80+/night. However, in a hostel overseas you always get an international mix of people here speaking many different languages, here for many different reasons and headed in many different directions. Which is probably by far the best reason to stay in a hostel. Not sure where else this eclectic mix of people can be found, typically very young so most have a wide range of experiences.
So...what is there to say about Indonesia? It's definitely a developing country. While the modern conveniences are here, you have to find them for sure. The roads are in a disrepair due to the abuse from the many types of vehicles on them. The most common mode of transportation by far here in Jakarta is motorcycle. I swear there are probably more bikes here than people. They supplemented with motor-tricycles (high pollution machines) and finally traditional cars, trucks and vans. Given the amount of small engine vehicles here the pollution is very high. The people know this and it's not uncommon to see people (mostly women) wearing masks to cover their nose and mouth to try and not breath this highly polluted air. Some have fancy hand made masks, while others just have surgical masks. The air is very poor here, most of the time I coughed when traffic was bad. A few times my eyes got watery, and I used my hat over my mouth to try and breath better.
I think this added to what I'm going to call the "Indonesian Smell". There is an odor here, no matter where you go in the country (at least during my travels).
Another very common thing are the street vendors. There numerous people selling products on almost every major street, corner, alley, train station or place where people may gather. Most were the same, selling cigarettes, tooth paste, water, assorted food items and candy. Some also made "fresh" foods, others provided services - such as motor cycle repair or even tailoring. I think the number of people "making" food items has added to the Indonesian Smell.
I had a chance to check out the museums of culture, history and art. The Dutch rule of Indonesia, had a major influence on the country and it's past. There are several museums of history and culture, there are were also so other random museums. Such as the museum of banking, which oddly contained a whole floor of computer relics (there was a whole shelf of 5.25" floppy disks drives - this officially makes me old!). This was quite a nice set of history, the banking part was large. The building itself was an old bank building the basement was a large vault. It was odd to see how people would store their items in a metal cash box, that itself was in a vault with a one foot thick solid metal door. There was also a room that showed large gold bars stacked all in one room. The museums seemed to be placed around a large central square where people seemed to gather. The day I was there street performers where doing their thing. They were quite young, and it seemed to be a family thing. For some reason they enjoyed using a whip, probably because of the sound it makes and it constantly appeared they were smacking people with it.
Each day seemed to start with a walk to Carrefour to grab some sort of food items. I didn't eat well here at all. Although, each morning the hostel provided breakfast of a plate of fruit, and two slices of toasted bread. That was a good start, and then usually at Carrefour I'd buy a small container of milk and whatever else. Oh and the water here is not drinkable, so I was always buying a bottle of water no matter where I was. A few times I also bought a bottle of tea to change it up a bit. I also walked nearly everywhere I was here in Indonesia. That really helped manage my weight because when I left Dubai (where I worked out nearly everyday), I stopped working out. Not really anywhere to do anything. I walked multiple miles while here daily.
Getting around Jakarta is an experience. Since I chose to walk most of the time I had to risk my life walking down the street because there are very few side walks. Often a motorcycle would pass by, as well as motor-tricycles and cars where quite close as we all fought for our share of the road. There really are no rules for the roads here in Jakarta. It really is just every man on their own, and good luck to you! A few times I didn't want to walk any more so I hopped on a motor cycle and they took me where ever I wanted to go. Helmet? Haha. The only time I was given one, it was just for show because the strap was broken, another time I was told to just jump on. So that was interesting. Actually makes me want to get motorcycle though, they are quite fun and quick. Although mine will be bought with a fully functioning helmet, I don't want to die from cranial contact with a hard service that can easily be avoided. The angkot was another interesting experience. It's basically a miniwan that is always working. The driver goes from one point to another and back all day. It's like a bus in that you can get off where ever you want, yell "kiri" and the driver will pull over and let you off, anywhere. You hail one by standing any where along the route and the driver will pull over and you jump on. I noticed during my trips that the driver was always honking his horn to try and get people standing around to hop on (of course to make money). Quite a cool way to get around assuming you know where to get on and off. The ride was Rp. 2000 ($0.20/trip no matter the length), so very cheap. Yesterday I went to a sufari (zoo). The location was several miles away. I took the train to the last stop, over an hour to get that far Rp. 9000 ($0.95/ride), then one angkot Rp. 2000 ($0.20/ride), talked to locals onboard and they told me where to grab the next angkot Rp. 2000 ($0.20/ride). That one took me to the first entrance gate to the safari. So just over $1USD to travel nearly 3 hours through the Indonesian traffic. At this point I should have hired an ojek (hired motorcycle) to the final gate, it was a 6km walk! On the return trip I did just that, although the ojek didn't charge me he just took off. He must have just been happy to talk to a foreigner. Same return trip on "public" transportation.
So I guess I'm saying to get around here you need to have a sense of adventure, and willingness to let go of your western standards of safety. There are always taxis available too, but that's not nearly as fun, and it's much more expensive (of course that's relative).
I suppose if I had a good job here, and housing I may stick around. Indonesian seems like a language I may actually have a chance at. At least it uses the Latin alphabet, people are really nice and try to be helpful as possible in their very broken English. One of the first foreign countries I've been in where the population has very poor English. Typically when I visit a foreign place the locals have a decent command of English. I'd probably have a motorcycle rather than a car, I guess that depends too. It does rain a lot here. Since I've been here about every other day.
Jakarta - Day 6
I visited the Taman Sufari, Bogor, Indonesia. It's basically what we'd call a zoo in the States. Here are several pictures from my experience:
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