Now that's what I call a jungle gym

I slept alright, but had no desire to get out of bed the next morning.  Sleeping in wasn’t really an option, though, since the birds and insects get an early start in their chatter.  So much for “In the jungle, the quiet jungle…”. 

I was a little cranky from the lack of sleep, the heat, and the discovery that my change of clothes was not in my backpack so I’d have to wear the damp, smelly clothing from the day before.  At least I had my PJ shirt so something felt different.

Before hiking out, we went on a morning hike to see the research areas.  It was interesting to see how they captured and measured the birds, and they let me release one.  Their nets are like giant volleyball nets made with fine black thread.  Easily visible from the side, but so invisible head-on that even I nearly ran into one when I knew they were there.

For me, the highlight of the hike was when we reached the giant strangler fig.  It had long ago overtaken its host tree, which had died and left a hollow space for this vine to thrive.  After one of our ranger friends started climbing it, I realized it was strong enough to hold me.  I climbed up a bit and enjoyed the view and the challenge.

Gives a whole new meaning to “jungle gym.” 

(warning:  this next paragraph talks about leeches again)

The leeches were out in force this morning, and I got a record 22 on me.  Most I detected in time to fling off while they were still on my boots or hat, but a few left their calling card on my legs for me to discover when taking off my socks.  I was lucky none climbed above my knees, though, and was grateful for my extra layer when one of my coworkers showed a leech mark near his bellybutton. Eww.

When it was time to leave, I was determined to not give the leeches any opportunity to get me.  It was at that point I saw my Indonesian friends putting insect repellent on their socks.  I thought it only worked for mosquitoes, but I was desperate.  I don’t know if it was the quick pace or the repellent, but my hike out was leech-free!  Along the way I hummed some hymns (it was a Sunday, after all), and one of my coworkers recognized a few from his church.

I was so grateful to reach the end!  We celebrated with fresh mangoes and coconut water before getting in the cars to begin the long drive back.  So delicious in that heat.  At the partner’s office, we were reunited with our luggage and I’ve never been so excited to bucket bathe and change clothes!  While we took care of a few things there, a stranger wandered in to join us.  He’d seen me going out to the car and was so excited to see a white girl that he came just to practice his English with us.  I humored him with a little small talk, and the next thing I knew he was inviting me to a relative’s wedding (too bad we were leaving).  Before he left he asked for a picture with me and my coworkers, as if he wanted proof he’d spoken with Americans.  It was kinda weird to be treated like a celebrity simply because of my race.

The drive back was just as long, and after dark the driving resumed its craziness, so it was nice when we arrived back in Banda Lampung where we’d held the workshop.  We had one final meal together as a group at a Padang restaurant.  It wasn’t much, but had a corner with some karaoke/live entertainment (a female singer and a dude with a mullet on keyboard).  It was after the dinner rush when we arrived and we stood out, so we made a fairly easy target.  Somehow they knew to start playing “Dando, dando”, at which point I was invited to join them on stage.  I decided to drag one of my colleagues up with me, which did not please him in the least. 
I don’t think his wife should mind, though, because he ended up dancing with our (male) driver while I danced with the lady singer.  The thumbs up dance didn’t last long before she started doing some moves I recognized from my friend’s belly dancing class so I joined in the fun.  What I didn’t realize was how long of a song “Dando dando” is—or perhaps they played the extended version for their American guests.  All I know is that there was plenty of time for the rest of our group to capture it on film so I’m not sure how many Indonesian facebook pages I’m now plastered across.

After dinner, we parted ways.  Our Indonesia staff were kind enough to switch places with them, allowing us to spend the night in a hotel and to fly back the next day rather than drive back to Jakarta.  The hotel was far superior to the guest faculty dorms, and it was difficult pulling myself away from a deliberately long, hot shower as I washed off the jungle.  Bonus:  when I turned on the TV they were showing an Indonesian variety show that paid tribute to Bollywood!  The Indonesian hosts dressed up in saris and sang in Hindi, making me think how impressed they’d be to have me join their cast. Maybe that’s really my calling in life:  to be on Indonesian television.  From what I’ve seen it doesn’t look that difficult, especially if you’re white.

A good day in all, but it hardly felt like a Sunday.  I love going to church when I travel and looked up the nearest chapel--physically, it was back in Jakarta.  There was also a branch in northern Sumatra, and based on my driving experience it would've taken over a day to get there.  Maybe next time...