15th November. I went to the supermarket and bought medicine for Christine. Later we got the same driver again and headed for Kawah Putih, a sulfurous, greenish lake on the south side of Bandung (on the way to Ciwidey) This was more interesting than yesterday and also had Christine falling in past her ankle, covering her leg in sulfur mud. Seeing the sulfur mist come off the lake was eerie and alien! After this, the lake was a bit of a let down. Then, on to another Sundanese restaurant, then back to Bandung. Missed out on seeing Champalas during the day again but visiting the puppet factory on the way to the crater made it worthwhile.

After we got back, Christine's friend Nani and her Sundanese friend from Ambon, Mary, came and visited. Poor Christine was still sick but put on a brave face and met people again. We discussed Sundanese culture and customs and the fact that there is are distinct facial features separating Sundanese from Javanese. Henry stayed over with us as he'll be coming back with us on the train tomorrow.

16th November

Left Bandung today. 3.5 hours on the train, then visiting Rika. (IMS driver and Rika picked us up from the train station. Then back to Ester's place.

Asked Henry about the blinker thing in Medan - where our driver had the blinker on the whole time. Henry said that, to indicate if there are cars in front of the car on the long stretches of winding road around Medan, to the cars behind, the car in between will use the right indicator and leave it on. Also, if overtaking, pressing the horn twice is a sign of thanks. (I had got quite disturbed by all these Indonesians banging their horns constantly thinking that this must be the worst area for road rage, but the viewpoint is obviously totally different as it means 'Thank you for letting me in!')

This is the day that my culture shock, heat and sheer desperation for fast English talking got to me and I spent the rest of the day depressed in my room. Please send me toilet paper, an English newspaper, someone I can talk about concepts to without worrying about offending sensibilities or worrying that I wouldn't be understood, and some cool weather. 3 weeks of constant heat, humidity and avoiding mosquitoes was not doing me any good as I prefer cold weather. I can't think if it is too hot. Oh, and a meat pie please, thanks!

One of the things I've noticed is that a few groups of houses have boom gates leading to the streets. The gates are manned and undesirables are kept out. Makes the streets a bit safer for children to play. This is quite common in Jakarta.

I was very surprised when I eventually had a chance to look in Plaza Senaya in Jakarta. When I'd got to Medan, what I saw was pretty much what I expected. When I got to Jakarta I expected much of the same and in most cases wasn't disappointed. But I didn't expect huge shopping plazas bigger than the biggest Westfields, distributed throughout Jakarta amongst the poor and impoverished. I was also surprised that the average monthly pay was 200,000 RP, about $AU40 per month. How can anyone survive on that? We spent $AU60 last night just going out with some friends. Any small business you may wish to set up here would be for status only. If you network and do a good job you earn respect. Christine's hairdresser friend is well known in Jakarta and requested by many. But in Sydney he's barely recognised. Jakarta is definitely the place to come if you want status.