Yet another day where the date functions on our cameras didn't quite work. Nova's photos and videos are from yesterday's trip on a kecil sungai (little river/canal) while mine are about today and tomorrow. Oh well, here's a combination of what I remember and can work out.
I recall we drive to a very modern compound belonging to a company where Nova used to work so he could meet up with one of his friends there. She lived in one of the many modern, western-suburban-looking houses on the compound. We had lunch in the company rumah makan (restaurant/canteen). I drank coke for the first time in months! The restaurant was similar to a mall food court - little stalls selling different kinds of food. I think I had gado-gado and other vegetables.
We travelled on, after stopping at a nearby wartel (warung telkom - phone 'shop'). I'd been unable to convince Nova that Adriani was OK and so I thought I should put the two in touch. Also I wanted to thank Adriani for introducing me to such lovely people and tell folk back home I was ok - I'd found that text messages which I thought I'd send weren't getting through. While I was speaking, Nova fell asleep - he looks so cute!
Somewhere on the way Nova had to swap cars - the company car he was using had developed a fault. I have vague memories of getting a bus at Kerinci and then bouncing for miles to Pekanbaru, then getting a lift from the bus station to Dita's house on the back a bike belonging to one of her family.
After a brief stop, Nova and I departed Pekanbaru on a 'travel-wagon' - a people-carrier that acted as a long-distance taxi. There is video evidence of me murdering Roy Harper's 'exercising some control' to the amusement of our fellow passengers.
Somewhere along the way our travel wagon broke down. I think it got a puncture and the spare wheel was unuseable. I recall a long wait for another to come out to rescue us and a very late arrival in Batu Sangkar, where Nova's wife (Bertin) and daughter (Nurul) live, at about 5 am. I recall even more blissfully sinking into Nova and Bertin's guest bed and nothing more.
© (except the blatantly ripped-off bits) Random Bozo 2006