After 36 hours, my life started all over again. There I was at the airport in Jakarta, Java, Indonesia. Everything, really everything, is foreign. The environment, the climate, the people, the language, the currency and the rules. Of course, especially at the airport, many things work the same everywhere. Queuing at the immigration desk, collecting luggage and getting out into the warm, humid air.
Even getting to the train that would take me into the city was a challenge. Jakarta airport is big and so there is also a train to another terminal. The train to the city is signposted exactly once. Not enough for those unfamiliar with the area. So I asked my way through. Indonesians are very friendly, helpful and polite. So if they don’t know something, they either say something or nothing at all. In the end, I was directed to the station and a train took me to another station where I had to wait another hour for THE train to the city. With 36 hours of travel time, it didn’t matter. After another hour’s journey and 1.90 EUR poorer (ticket), I was standing there in the chaos of Jakarta. Loud, dirty, stuffy and confusing. But I had just come from Arusha and was therefore experienced and my hotel was quickly found.
Now a cold beer
Well, I had mixed up Indonesia with Thailand or Malaysia. Just going out for a beer was out of the question. None of the small shops like Indomaret or Alfamart had even a can or bottle. 75% of the Indonesian population is Muslim, so it’s clear why the search is so difficult. After a good 45 minutes, I found a small shop in the backyard where a man behind bars sold me two cans for the equivalent of 3 EUR. A steep price when I had just eaten my dinner for 0.60 EUR.
Old daily routine
I used the time in Jakarta efficiently. The next day, I had to get a sim card and a train ticket to Blitar. This is always the same when I arrive in a new country. Find a shop where you can get a local mobile number and organise further transport.
Of course, I took public transport for that. It was interesting that I was asked at the train station that I should wear my mask. Yesterday I arrived on a Sunday, when masks were not mandatory, and today they are mandatory again? They gave me a mask straight away but they could still see my uncomprehending face.
It took me half a day to do my tasks. The rest of the day I went for a walk, which is not quite as relaxing in Jakarta. Instead, I just celebrated the street food in the evening. I was in Asia and tomorrow I’m heading to the coffee plantation.
Welcome to the Garden of Eden
After a comfortable 13-hour train ride, I arrived in Blitar at 4 am. and what can I say, I was picked up by the manager of the plantation himself. I was impressed, but in the end just tired. Thomas showed me to my room for the first night and I fell asleep straight away.
The next day I was still free. I came a day early. So I familiarised myself with everything and looked around. What a unique place that was to be my home as a volunteer for the next four weeks. Here the air is not stuffy but pleasantly fresh, always with a light breeze. Surrounded by green, you are taken back in time. The time of the colonial rule of the Dutch. The buildings, a museum and the name “De Karanganjar Koffieplantage” still bear witness to this. And that’s what makes this place so special, with its very own flair.
Work yes but much more experience
Alfi greeted me very warmly as she was coming out of town with the other two volunteers Laura and Moritz. They are both German. Not really my thing, but we got on well straight away and had a great time together.
I was given a work schedule. Sometimes I had to work in the factory, sometimes I had to harvest the coffee and sometimes I had to clean. It wasn’t hard work, it was more about the experience, which was so rich and never stopped. I learned everything about coffee, of course, from the harvest to the drink. Everything is processed here by hand. Mister Suki showed me everything. A small man, probably in his mid-sixties, who has his own TikTok channel and explains everything about coffee using Google Translate. However, you also play the main role in one of his TikTok videos at least once.
And directly a few days later I was allowed to be part of the coffee wedding. A traditional ceremony of the plantation for a good harvest. A spectacle that goes on all day and we volunteers were one of the main attractions and not only on that day. Tourists or western people are a rarity here and so it is only understandable that people want to talk to us and especially take pictures. The whole thing went so far that at a festival in Blitar, we were brought on stage of a play by the mayor and of course mentioned by name for the audience. In the meantime, we are even the new testimonials of the next festival on the plantation. So I’m a bit of a famous person now.
The days and weeks passed and I became more and more a part of the plantation family. In addition, the owner and CEO of the plantation, Wima, is not only my age but we also share a similar passion; making videos. He needs a lot of video material for the social media presence of the plantation, but he has also made it his business to bring Blitar closer to the people and to report about the attractions. And he took me with him. I acted as the camerawoman and sometimes as the foreigner in front of the camera. It was always mega fun and I saw so much of Blitar and its culture. Hours of conversations about this culture, religions, politics, life and many thoughts in between created a friendship between Wima and me where we can just be.
After four weeks, I decided to stay a few days longer. I couldn’t leave yet because, as always, I was afraid of leaving. This place became a part of me, and I became a part of it. Strangers became colleagues, acquaintances, even friends. But then one day I realised it was time to go. I had to move on, travel, discover the island and its beauty. But every change also means a farewell. As expected, it was painful. “You are always welcome, because you are more than a volunteer, you are my buddy” with these words from Wima in my ear, Alfi and Mister Peanut drove me to the bus. Saying goodbye to Alfi was not going to be easy either. But it was short and painless, because the bus went straight to Malang and I left a wonderful, enriching time behind me. Indonesia came a little closer to me, now it is time for me to take a step towards Indonesia.
And you can see more of my time at De Karanganjar coffee plantation here. Since it was such an eventful time, I have created chapters to give you an idea of what I experienced here.