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    Encounters with the motherland

    Photos from Indonesia

    There are [5] photos from Indonesia

    We arrive, we pass through, and eventually we must leave. But all processes are marked with a familiarity that differs so markedly from my experiences growing up in Jakarta. Of course there are both pros and cons to constantly living with such intimacy, but since it is not entirely my world (which is an urban one filled with strangers), I tend to remember positive memories such as this: a man on his motorcyle, head turned to the side, greeting all those he encounters in passing. Views[125] Similarly, not all encounters on the street involve vehicles with four wheels. Here children from my village are on their way to school as the sun is rising behind them. I am also on my bike, on my way home from a morning ride. Although cars and motorcycles are increasingly penetrating village life, bikes still play an important role in at least children's every day activities. Views[165] Not all exchanges are confined to the home, and they are not always planned. Since the villages are so small we often see people we know in the surrounding streets. In this photo, a fellow villager cheerfully inspects the contents of our car. My cousin, driving us, can be seen in the side mirror. Views[142] When we arrive in our village, for the duration of our stay, our days are filled with exchanges and greetings. In this photo we are walking back to our place from my great-aunt's house, who is on the left. On the right my aunt holds an empty plate wrapped in cloth. It would have been filled with food - anything from fruits or cakes, to rice or curries. As is the custom, we brought it to my great-aunt's house as a gift to her. Views[149] The first day in West Sumatra is always filled with anticipation - we have to travel three hours to get to our hilly inland village from the coastal city of Padang. The food is one thing we all anticipate with excitement: the fresh produce, the wonderful cooked meals by our various aunts. Indeed food is a big part of being West Sumatran. Here, as the sun begins to set, my mother eagerly purchases a bunch of ripe, sweet bananas from a street seller. Time to tuck in! Views[151]
     

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