Lost and Found

As Albert Einstein said, we have to decide whether we live in a friendly or hostile universe. I choose the friendly universe. When I decided to travel, I trust that the universe is kind and that it will provide. A few years back, I couldn’t go anywhere on my own because I just couldn't trust anyone. I guess I was just one of those people trapped in fear. Then suddenly I woke up from this long dream. I feel different. I still don’t know what exactly happened, but it felt like yesterday I was still in this small box.  Then all of a sudden a small portal just opened in front of me. Oh this could be the bright side. I knew that there must be something better on the other side. The unknown is quite scary, but it always makes me curious. And so I went in.

I remember when I was hitchhiking in Sumatra, I got dropped somewhere in Pekanbaru city coming from Dumai. It was quite late in the afternoon and I was confused as to what to do. I didn't know if I am going to stay in the city or just head on straight to this small town called Bukitinggi. So I tried hitchhiking again, but it was kind of difficult to wait for a ride in this big city.  Just when I was about to leave, a car stopped in front of me. A young local guy asked me where I was going, and I was lucky that he was heading to the same direction. This was how I met Billie.

I was in his car for another 6 hours, but then I never felt bored or tired with him. I've seen the most beautiful scenery in west Sumatra along the way. We exchanged stories and found ourselves laughing about stuff. He was really a funny guy, and very determined to practice his English. He was so nice enough to drop me right in front of my host’s house late that night. We said goodbye to each other then he continued his journey to this island in Padang.

Next morning I realized that my wallet was missing, so I panicked. All my bank cards were there. I searched my host’s place and I couldn't find it. Until I realized that I might have left it in Billie’s car. I called him and there was no answer. I really didn't have any money or anything with me. I was thinking that Billie might be spending some time in the island with his friend, and I’m worried that my wallet might not be in his car too. I was trying to think where I might have left it, then I thought of this small restaurant where we ate somewhere in the town the other night. But I was hoping that I didn't leave it there as there was a slim chance of getting it back.  I couldn't travel anywhere as I was just really frustrated about my negligence.

I called Billie again that afternoon and he answered. To my relief, he told me that I left my wallet in his car. And he was willing to drop it in my host’s place on his way back home. And he did it. I met him again the next day and he returned my wallet. I was really happy and grateful that there’s still someone like Billie in this world. I couldn't imagine all the hassles of getting new bank cards due to my carelessness. It was the nicest thing a person had ever done to me. I will always be thankful for that.

I always trust in the kindness of the universe. I know that it’s a bit challenging to be positive at all times considering that there are worse things happening around us, and it makes us lose faith in humanity. As I move around and travel more, I learned that things will always work out just fine in the end. I met people along the way, and It's proven that it’s still part of human nature to help one another. Everywhere I went, I experienced the true kindness of people. I remembered that a few months ago, I was so worried about the things that will happen today. But then everything turned out ok eventually however difficult things could be from the start. In this lifetime I think I had already overcome the worst situations and passed through various obstacles. By now I had gotten used to this. My immunity level is so high I couldn't feel anything anymore. I will always believe in what Anthony de Mello said, “Though everything is a mess, all is well”. So there is no sense in worrying about the future or what’s going to happen. It comes soon enough. And if things didn't turn out as expected, then we just have to learn from the experience and move on.

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Hitchin' A Ride in Sumatra

I remember when I first tried hitchhiking some four years ago in Thailand, I was like “what the hell are we doing?” Can we just take a bus or something, I was scared, shy and it felt a little weird. I've seen hitchhiking in some movies but I never thought it’s possible in real life. Then I went back home and tried it again, and again and again. And so now, this is I how travel. 

Before I left Philippines, I was doing some research about hitchhiking in Indonesia. I read in some Couchsurfing group about the people who were successful in doing it. As I arrived in Sumatra, I've heard from locals about the dangers of traveling here. I know that danger is everywhere, but who cares now. I know now how to trust my instincts and decide quickly should danger arise.  I've probably learned this skill when I was still living in my city. I got used to anticipating dangers especially when I was commuting at night in Manila. Sometimes I felt more unsafe in my own city than in any other place in this world.

I’m quite lucky that my host in Dumai in North Sumatra is very much familiar with this kind of travel. He had already hosted a lot of travelers from all over the world who hitchhiked in Indonesia. Hearing this, I got excited. That time I couldn't wait to get out of Riau and head to Padang. As you know, most of the locals are not open to this kind of traveling, and expect them to bombard you with warnings until you get so scared you won’t do it anymore. I guess I got so immune to this, although sometimes I could make use of some precautions here and then. I got to understand that it’s normal for them to worry, especially when they are not so used to a foreign woman traveling alone and hitchhiking. But of course I don’t let all their warnings stop me from traveling this way. It also pays to be extra careful sometimes, and it's totally normal to protect your life in every chance that you have. So in the end, I was successful in hitchhiking in Indonesia. And now my memory is loaded with amazing experiences with people I met on the road. 

My host dropped me in the middle of the hazy highway somewhere in Dumai where I could easily get a ride. Riau was full of smoke due to forest fires, a big issue in Sumatra that time. It was like that scene in Silent Hill. Only it was not scary, it was a health hazard and it was very annoying. It was kind of hard to look around as my eyes hurt due to the haze. It was really bad. It was good that I didn't have to wait for a long time to get a ride. 

My favorite one was when I was in a coffee truck. I was lucky that the driver,  this nice old guy could speak a little bit of English, so we could understand each other a little bit. He dropped me somewhere in Pekanbaru, and then he gave me some coffee. He just snatched some packs of local instant coffee at the back of his truck and handed it to me, just like that. It was really funny!

My advantage I guess is that I look like a local here. So the car and truck drivers who passed by were just curious as to what this Indonesian woman doing on the side of the highway, alone with all her luggage and stuff. And so they stopped and asked me as to where I was going, in Bahasa of course.

My hitchhiking trip in Sumatra is really unforgettable. I've met a lot of amazing people along the way. And I was able to learn a little bit of Bahasa too, thanks to my English teacher host in Dumai. I lost the list that he wrote for me, but I've had it all memorized as I've used all it most of the time during my travel here. So I’m gonna end this post with some useful phrases you can use for hitchhiking in Indonesia.

Boleh saya numpang? – May I get a free ride?

Saya turun disini – I get off here

Saya numpang saja – I hitchhike only / free ride only

Mau kemana? – Where are you going?

Saya mau ke “Padang” (Name of a city in Sumatra) – I go to Padang

Terima kasih – Thank you

Hati-hati – Take care

Utama ke? – Highway to?

Tidak mengerti – I don’t understand

Sebelum “Padang”, ok – Before “Padang”, ok.

Sesudah “Padang”, ok – After “Padang”, ok.

Saya tidak punya uang – I don’t have much money.

Dimana saya? – Where am I?

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