|
Sue and Ayu traveled to Sumbawa in May for a series of KGI Teacher Workshops, school visits especially to
AIBEP schools, and student meetings. They also visited KGI radio stations. Read about some of the fun they
had plus some of the dramas too.
Sumbawa, May21st to May 25th– what can I say? The KGI team is very used to traveling – it’s
one of the job requirements really! Most the time we have a great time – despite long days and frequent
delays. However our recent trip to Sumbawa was a trip Ayu and I will never forget – for several reasons!
The day began early – a taxi picked me up at 5:15 to take me to the airport. I SMSd Ayu to check she
was on her way and told her I was waiting inside the airport. We checked in and - on time - at
7:00 we boarded the flight. But at 7:15 we “unboarded” the flight - due to technical problems
the plane could not fly. We went back to the waiting area and waited … and waited … and waited.
There were no announcements. Finally at 9:00 I went down to the check-in desk to find out what was happening.
After communicating on his walkie-talkie the airline staff told me that the plane would not be taking off
at all. An announcement was made and all the passengers trooped down to the Trigana office to see what our
options were. I wonder – if I hadn’t gone down to ask, how long would we have been left
waiting?
Ayu and I and several other passengers decided to book the 1:15 flight to Mataram which would still give us
enough time to travel overland and by ferry to Sumbawa. After checking times etc we left the airport to go
and get some breakfast. It was hard to believe it was still only 10:00am. We returned to the airport at 12:30
to check in. We were happy to be on the move again. However we were told the flight had also been cancelled
(same plane, same technical problem) so the airline had transferred us to a different airline. Great! Ah
not so great - this flight wasn’t leaving till after 4:00! Good job I had a good book!
This flight did leave on time and by the time we arrived in Mataram (a 25 minute flight) we’d been ‘traveling’ 12
hours - the same time it takes to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam!
In Mataram we jumped in a taxi for the almost two hour drive across the island to the ferry. We passed some
fantastic scenery and a couple of interesting Sasak wedding processions on the way. Night was falling as
we arrived at the ferry. Luckily there was a ferry waiting and after about an hour it had filled up and we
were on our way. I have never been a great fan of Roma Irama - especially at full volume but if you
wanted to sit inside there was no escaping his sad/depressing songs playing on the video. It took about one
hour to Sumbawa – and another 20 minutes to dock – in out, in out we went – must have
been a new driver!! We had made several calls to the hotel in Sumbawa Besar and they had arranged to
meet us at the ferry. Originally Ayu and I thought we could do the last part of the journey by public transport – but
there is no public transport meets the ferry at night! How do people get around in Sumbawa?
Ibu Swarni from the hotel told us it would probably take a couple of hours – not so much because of
the distance but because of the bad road conditions and the night driving. Oh well it was only 9:00 - what’s
2 more hours after the day we’d had? After we had been driving a kilometer or so I looked around
to see what the flashing light was which was reflecting from the driver’s mirror. I thought perhaps
there was a police car or ambulance behind us. It wasn’t a vehicle– it was us! A strip like strobe
light was flashing on, off, on, off at regular intervals. Ayu and I looked at each other - two hours
of this? It was making us feel quite sick ! I politely asked the driver if it could be turned off but apparently
it was wired into his back lights so it would be flashing for the next 2 hours! One answer was to use the
headrest as an eye-shade – see photo! Finally, very late we reached the hotel – too late for food
or drink as the kitchen had closed. We were shown to our rooms and given a bottle of water. I unpacked, had
a hot shower and fell into bed – we had an early start the next day!
Looking forward to breakfast – our first meal since breakfast the day before I was slightly disappointed
when we were served with a toasted sandwich with an unknown filling. Oh well better than nothing. Pak Deden
arrived and about 7:30 we set off for SMPN 4 Labuan Badas an AIBEP school. It took less than an hour from
the town but trying to find the entrance was very tricky! We could see the school we could hardly miss the
bright pink building, but drove in a huge circle around the houses trying to find the entrance! We were warmly
greeted by the head teacher and one of the English teachers and were invited to meet some students. The school
uniform was bright green and next to the pink walls was a stunning contrast. AIBEP has built 3 new classrooms
at this school and they are being well used – there is a double shift already operating there. The students
were a little shy at first but soon began asking simple questions to myself and Ayu. They played some games
in English and learnt how to get their own Kang Guru magazine. We left some Kang Guru materials and prizes
with the teacher and she promised to keep in touch – I hope she does.
The next school was also in a very unusual place hidden down a narrow gang. A small sign pointed the way to
the SMPN 5 Sumbawa Besar. This bright orange school was perched high on a hill with magnificent views. The
breeze was lovely. This new school only had a small number of students – class 1 and class 2. They all
piled into one classroom and Ayu and I told them about Kang Guru and how it could help them with their English.
The desks and chairs were all new, built by the local community. We played some games and the students also
had quite a lot if questions to ask us. Students in both schools were invited to participate in the radio
show at RSP Sumbawa Besar later that day. Again we left Kang Guru materials for the English teachers. The
head teacher also promised to bring some students along to the Saturday KGI fun day in Sumbawa Besar.
We drove back to SB and Ayu and I asked about lunch – we were hungry. But nothing was available at the
hotel so we went by ojek to a restaurant in the town. We were able to take a rest before going to RPD at 4:00
to appear on a special English interactive show with Andry, Ima and Muti. We held a couple of competitions
and invited callers to phone in. Some listeners braved the heavy rain and came to the studio to meet us too
including William, Vera, Iksan and Ela. We left about 5:30 – just as the rain stopped and walked back
to the hotel. Ayu and I decided to have an early dinner and get a good night’s sleep after our
adventure the day before. Little did we know how late it would be when we actually got to bed that night.
An hour later we met in the lobby and took a couple of ojek to a local restaurant. We ordered fish and as
we waited, down came the rain again. It poured down and after eating we waited almost an hour before the
rain eased off a little and we walked out to the road to wait for transport. Finally one ojek came along.
We asked him to find another but he said ‘susa – hujan’– and as we had already waited
at least 15 minutes we could only agree. So Ayu and I climbed onto the back of the same ojek and returned
to the hotel. Nothing prepared us for what happened next. Just as we pulled into the hotel car park someone
approached from behind, cut the strap on my bag on my back and in a split second was running to his accomplice
who was waiting on a motorcycle at the hotel entrance. Ayu and I leapt off the ojek shouting Maling!! Tolong!!!!
etc but although a small crowd appeared from nowhere it was too late. The robber (and my bag) was quickly
out of sight. Mental notes of what was in my bag immediately began flashing through my head – wallet,
camera, money, telephone, watch, small notebook, etc. Luckily my old, heavy handphone had fallen out the
bag and Ayu handed it to me. It still worked! So he didn’t get everything! So, what now? I knew that
I would have to report the theft to the police so that I could replace my KITAS, ATM card and driving licenses
etc. So in the pouring rain we went to the nearby police station. The report seemed to take forever. A member
of staff from the hotel came with us and he phoned Pak Deden who also came along. In the next 3 hours myself
and Ayu reported the story to several different policemen who very slowly, with two fingers typed what we
said, printed it and I signed 16 – yes 16, pieces of paper. Eventually the policeman and Pak Deden
took us back to the hotel.
The key to the room had also been I my back so I asked to change rooms. I was told ‘Oh it’s okay
here –aman!’ I reminded the staff member that not 2 meters from where we were standing I had been
robbed just a couple of hours ago! So the search then began for a duplicate key. There were enough keys for
an entire prison but none of them fit my door so with a rock and a broken screwdriver a hotel worker broke
into the room. He was too big to climb in through the window but Ayu managed to slip in and open the door
from the inside. I threw all my things into my bag and moved to another room – where I had to hang everything
up again - it was already past 1:0 clock! What happened to our early night?
I didn’t sleep very well – neither did Ayu – we both kept hearing ‘noises’.
Breakfast was tea and another mystery toasted sandwich which I couldn’t bring myself to eat. Ayu and
I were soon on our way to SMK1 Sumbawa Besar for a fun morning with students from 25 different schools. Staff
members from RPD Sumbawa were there too and in fact Pak Heri the manager gave a short opening speech. There
were about 200 students and the room was packed. We played games, had a yell yell competition and a magazine
quiz. During the morning I had another trip to the police station to report to Intel and while I was away
Andry from RPD stepped in and helped Ayu with the activities. Thanks Andry!
We finished the activities about 12:30 and after what felt like three zillion photos Ayu and I left for lunch.
Pak Deden’s wife had cooked lunch for us – including sepat a popular fish soup from Sumbawa. It
was delicious. We also met his daughter and the youngest member of Pak Deden’s family - his two
month old son.
After a short rest we visited two villages in the hills outside Sumbawa Besar to experience some rural life
and cuci mata. Traditional weaving, homemade rattan baskets and buffalo racing were on the agenda. Unfortunately
the basket maker’s house was locked up – they were away. We only saw one lady weaving the traditional
cloth and we couldn’t rouse anyone from their afternoon nap to buy any! The buffalo though were great!
They were gentle, very clean and surprisingly soft to stroke. They looked fabulous in their racing harnesses.
The ibu of the household was busy making us some special coconut cakes which were delicious – even
though Ayu and I realized we’d not washed our hands since stroking the buffalo! Then we visited Songken
driving down some very narrow roads between rice fields where the ladies planting the rice all wore traditional
sunscreen pasted to their faces made from green mango. Eventually we came to the place where the buffalo
racing actually takes place. We saw some more buffalo and ponies and met some of the young jockeys (aged
6 and 7)who ride in the local horse races. More homemade cakes followed! That evening back at the hotel we
went nowhere and slept early.
Next morning I declined the mystery toasted sandwich (was it the same one I rejected yesterday?) and just
drank tea. And just before 8:00 we set off to SMK 1 again this time for a teacher workshop. Among the 80 or
so teachers who attended I recognized some faces who had come to the last KGI workshop in 2007. In the morning
session we worked through some of the new Kang Guru materials as activities for integrating the skills. They
were a lively crowd and after lunch we played some team games which they joined in with great enthusiasm.
Before long it was time to pack up and return to the radio station for the regular 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon
show. Another listener joined us and there were several listeners phoned in or SMSd. Just after 5 we left
RPD - the day wasn’t finished – it was time to buy oleh oleh! Luckily Ayu lent me some money and
bought some local Sumbawa delights – including honey. Deden offered to take us to a lesehan warung to
eat and we ordered more sepat. What a surprise! This one had a whole fish in each bowl lying in a pool of
soup. Although it was very tasty I think Pak Deden’s wife’s soup was better. Pak Deden will be
in Bali for three months starting the middle of June and he has received strict instructions to learn how
to make sepat so he can show Ayu and I when he’s staying here! Feeling very full we went back to the
hotel to pack.
The next morning – (yes, tea and another toasted sandwich) we visited an AIBEP constructed
Sekolah Satu Atap SMP 6. It was a long drive on a very rough road. This school was in contrast to the two
we had visited earlier on our trip. The paintwork on the buildings looked old and was peeling, the toilets
had no doors and the grounds were not well cared for. However the students were delightful. All of them piled
into one classroom. Again they were a little shy at first but we explained about Kang Guru and played some
games in English. Two boys entertained us and sang their favourite song. We could only stay for an hour or
so, and when we left it was time for the students to leave too. Some of them face at least a 30-minute walk
home! This really was a remote school.
Back to the hotel and then to the airport which is only 10 minutes from the town. Luckily the flight was more
or less on time. The flight across Lombok was very bumpy as we flew through a very thick clouds and a torrential
storm. The clouds cleared as we came to land in Lombok. The plane was being refueled so passengers had to
get off and wait in the airport for about 30 minutes. After all the drama of the trip I was looking forward
to getting home – I’m sure Ayu was too. Back on the plane and the short hop to Bali was uneventful.
In the airport we waited ages for the luggage to arrive – you always wait at least 30 minutes. Trigana
parks a long way from the terminal building – I’m sure they hand deliver the luggage. Eventually
their luggage appeared and passengers collected their bags and left the building. Only Ayu and I were left
waiting by the conveyor belt. Ayu asked the baggage handlers if there were more bags from Sumbawa just as
the conveyor belt shuddered to a stop! Great! It turns out that although we were issued tickets for Denpasar
our luggage had been issued tickets to Mataram! Ayu remained calm and helped filled out the lost luggage
forms. I wanted to scream!!!!! So that evening I returned home with one small rucksack and a plastic bag with
my money and telephone in. I didn’t have to unpack or wash anything! The next day our luggage arrived
in Bali.
What a trip – certainly one I’ll never forget.
|
Sue trying to sleep in the car
heading to Sumbawa
SMPN 4 Labuan Badas an AIBEP school
Sport is always a favorite activity
and at SMPN 4 Labuan Badas
as it is the same as everywhere
else in Indonesian schools
Teachers at SMPN 5 Sumbawa Besar
Pak Deden, a current ADS student at
IALF Bali, helped KGI to organize
the teacher workshops in Sumbawa
Sue and Ayu visiting local craft
people in Sumbawa
KGI's broadcast station - RPD Sumbawa
Students at their AIBEP
school - SD/SMP 6 Sabalong Samalewa
Our school is great - thanks AIBEP
AIBEP school - SD/SMP 6 Sabalong Samalewa
|
