To travel or to be a tourist? That is the question

(Written in Melbourne, Australia)

This is a poem for those of you who don't understand Dutch. For all my Belgian friends and family: let this poem be a fun summary of my travels through Indonesia. However, this is only the first part yet. Soon, there will be more to enjoy. Have fun with it! big kisses from a beautiful country with a very warming population.


TO TRAVEL OR TO BE A TOURIST: THAT'S THE QUESTION. By Bab Marlie

After a long journey by Marlies to the far East
The reunion of the two of us, was truly a big feast.

Indonesians don't pronounce the s at the end of a word
So if we introduce ourselves, 'tis 'Bob Marley' that is heard

’It is travellers, not tourists that we are’
Marlies would yell it loud and far.
’We don't lie on a beach like a bimbo
Or wear our bikini, while dancing the limbo.
we want to discover nature, wild and rough’,
For those who didn't know: Bob Marley is tough.

Kuta was too touristic and loud
Off to Lombok, we had to get out!

On the ferry we spotted dolphins and we arrived at night.
We got surrounded by hasslers who wanted to give us a fright.
In Bali, bargaining is the main form of communication,
at first, this resulted in an exhausting negotiation.
Now, we know, we need to use a female trick
to drop down the price and this really quick.
Fortunately being travellers made us quite tough,
we bargained about the bemoprice until it was enough.

Our transport here is a bemo: a kind of mini van.
In Europe, after WWI, these vehicles were under a ban.
In Indonesia however, it is a place for several people to meet.
And when we enter, we do indeed get a very warming greet.
Although from time to time, it gets uncomfortable and slow
It’s very real and makes us part of the original flow.

Finally we reached our goal, the silent Mataram.
A lovely place apart from this: a sign said 'Pro Sadam!'
we spend the night at a cosy place, its name was Aka's Homestay.
They guided us around next day, we didn't have to pay.
The only thing they asked from us, was that we bought a fish.
They brought the wine and a guitar, and made a tasteful dish.

Next day we went to the Rinjani and put hiking shoes on our feet,
we would be climbing for three days. We had a volcano's lake to meet.
Of all the mountains here, Rinjani is the hardest one to climb.
We did hold on, though it was hard. We had a sweaty time.
Sometimes the slopes became so steep,
that in our ‘volcaneering’ trip, we couldn't give a peep.
Our guide didn't support us at all, he said we were weak and soft,
We proved him wrong, we reached our goal, we're cool like Lara
Croft.

We looked at the crater and the lake amidst the burning sunbeams,
the view was so spectacular, beyond our wildest dreams.
Then we found the hot springs: waterfalls of clear hot water
It was a little paradise, we felt like Adam's daughter.
This moment of divinity gave energy and power,
to walk back to our little tent within the coming hour.
At night we didn't get much sleep, the dark was cold and wet,
the sleeping bags were way too small, the ground a rocky bed.
And then the wild hounds started howling. Were they looking for a
prey?
We were up all night, we didn't mind and laughed our misery away.

After the trek our muscles were sore.
So bad we couldn't go anymore.
We found ourselves on a white beach, bathing in the sun.
Being a tourist once and a while: it can be so much fun!

Greetings from the Gili Islands next to lovely Lombok
From happy Bab and cheerful Marlie lying in a hammock.