Where is Rune?

A bus ride from Sarinah to BEJ (the stock exchange building) on “Kopaja” (Koperasi Angkutan Jakarta). Rp 2000.

Kopaja bus driver.

Contemporary art seen at Senayan City shopping mall, Jakarta.

We decided to spend the Easter (31 March – 4 April) in Balikpapan for various reasons. Two of the reasons were Sanjay and Astrid (as usual!)

On Friday night we went out to the Red Square Balikpapan. Entrance ticket was a steep Rp 150k because of a fashion show.

I’m back in Jakarta again. Pak Hadi dropped me off at the Skyline building 07:30 this morning. I felt I needed a walk, so I walked down to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and back again. Right now I’m sitting at Starbucks, Skyline building.

In the two photos below, pay attention to the difference in color of the sky…

Astrid, Sanjay, and Caecil. Plaza Balikpapan.

Back in Jakarta! Hotel Indonesia traffic circle this morning.

I am back in Indonesia again.

Uno was on a 3-day visit to Jakarta from 17 to 20 March, before continuing to Bhutan. We took him to Puncak Pass south of Jakarta, among all the tea plantations.

The picture below, however, was taken on 16 March, and shows football supporters crowding the streets. Football is very popular in Indonesia.

On Saturday morning at 06:10 I took the 2nd class train (Rs 220) from Kandy to Colombo. The scenery was very nice on this leg. Mountains and jungle. And several short tunnels.

In Colombo, I stayed at the Parisare (again). I didn’t do much all day, just resting. My legs are finally recovered.

I took a pre-booked taxi out to the airport Sunday morning at 04:00. Price: Rs 2000 (yes, expensive). Flight to Singapore at 07:20. Arrival in Singapore around 15:00.

And then: MRT to Harbourfront Centre. Ferry to Batam Centre (SGD 23). Taxi (IDR 45k) to Hotel Istana Batam (IDR 139k), Nagoya.

And tomorrow: Plane to Jakarta (Lion Air, IDR 339k).

During my 23 days in Sri Lanka, I spent a total of 47,383 Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR). This is equivalent to 415.64 USD, or 18.07 USD per day.

Hey, that’s my new sandals! I’m stepping on the floor at the Olde Empire Hotel, Kandy.