Habib's text wakens me at 9:30am. We must make haste if we wanna join the hike! Hustle to get organized. Bell Hop hails a cab. An hour through abominable traffic and we're at Habib's door. Only he's busy showering. Eventually he's dressed and all, "C'mon, the others are waiting." Hustle down the street to where a caravan of jeeps awaits. This is meant to be a hike, right? Wait-wait. Wait some more. And then, "Which one do you want to ride in?" How about the open one. No walls or roof to confine me, I gotsta be free!
Pull into church parking lot. Gotta wait for Grampa to finish a meeting. Two year old Chester babbles in Mother's arms. Fer Chrissake the whole family's come along. Should know by now. We're in Indoland. Hurry up and wait.
Hours later and we're off. The rust bucket I've chosen to ride in guzzles gas like a Hummer. The weird plastic gas can tied down to the front seat is buggin' me out. Safety second! All offers to off-set cost of fuel are rebuked. No way bule (boo-lay), you're my guest now.
Yeah, so it wasn't ever going to be a hike to begin with. Nope. We're going off-roading. The trail is insane. All muddy trenches and small boulders up steep incline through sparse conifer forest. On occasion we encounter massive dips. Our driver simply guns the engine in the hopes we will catch air. The boys ahead are snapping pictures as our jeep hurdles over mud ramps the height of our windshield. The guys behind us nearly upend their vehicle. Too fun, just gotta back up and do it again. Straight death wishers.
Habib wants us to ride the jeep with the flatbed which requires we stand. That's real off-roadin'! Yeee-haw! 'Merica! Cross bar on the roof we're using as a handhold can't take our weight, snaps off in our hands. Nothing to hang onto now. Death looms.
Switch jeeps. Getting battered from all the bouncing. Certainly exciting but it can't beat hiking. Just can't get intrigued by motorsports. Don't get the appeal. I hike, I ride my bike, all my locomotion is powered from within. That's real freedom. My point proves salient in light of the frequent breakdowns that halt our progress. Never deters our hosts. They're out of their seats scrutinizing automobile guts, solving issues in minutes. Still, pieces of the topless jeep keep breaking off. How long can this ancient rig last? The abuse it receives, my lord. Deep puddles? Muscle through. Log in the road? Roll over it, gun that engine, make it happen. Yeah! Feel the power! We're a men among men-men manly men-men manly men are we!
Finally our party parks somewhere near the peak. Habib ushers us through tall grass to an overlook. The city sprawls below in all directions. A mean storm is brewing, whisps of cloud scatter light of a fading sun. Best part of our day's adventure this brief hike.
Into darkness we descend. Back in town and our caravan stops for dinner. No discussion of what we would like. Dudes are paying our way and will call all the shots, no questions. Scrumptious Padang food eaten the Padang way, with bare fingers. After the day's battery boiled cabbage would have tasted good. Hunger is the best sauce.
As a final conundrum our hosts lead us to believe we will follow dinner with drinks somewhere in town only to be escorted back to our hotel, ostensibly to clean up, and then told we can't carry on together. They're tired and won't be able to join us for the night. So...you couldn't have just dropped us off at a bar in town and parted ways? Nope. The host must be entirely responsible. No exceptions.
Stranded in this weird end of town Natalie and I opt for showers before a visit to the hotel bar up the hill. Streets are dark, empty, and quiet. Abandoned. Ghost bar. Just the two of us drinking. The rock band posters adorning the walls were a sensible if oft-used touch. But the plethora of vast display cases housing atrocious Barbie Doll scenes was just creepy. Who in their right mind put this abomination together? Wish I had brought my camera so you could see what I'm talking about. Wish in one hand...
Bus back to Bogor Monday morn. Return to my crib two hours before work begins. What follows is a week of fatigue.
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