May 23rd, 2011
Yesterday my bike was shiny and new and I promised Lucy that I would not ride at night... Let’s just say a few things have changed. In fact BikeJava day 1 was a transformative in many ways. We began in southern Jakarta (near blok m),there we worked our way through crowded streets in the in the smouldering heat. Then the popluation density thinned a bit and clouds covered the bright equatorial sun. We sat shivering in Bogor for over an hour waiting for the downpour to lighten enough to ride again it was I realized I had not only left the heat behind, I had let go of all the little things that have kept my mind racing the past month. Now my only job is to revel in every moment of this adventure. The last 20 kilos from Bogor to Batukarut (a small village outside of Kota Sukabumi) pushed me physically as we rode straight up for 2 hours in the dark. I’m still learning to use my 24 gears in the most efficient manner and what better way to figure it out then while dodging trucks buses and potholes? (mom, dad, and Lucy... it wasn’t dangerous I swear!) Sink or swim. For those of you who have pushed yourself in any similar way you already know it’s all mental, so just focus on things that make you happy and forget the pain in your legs... I like to pedal to songs or funny phrases like “No Smoke, just Sweat!” (thank you Anisa!!) The last 3 kilometers up the village were the steepest and most painful but most rewarding. Once we reached the top we had to walk our bikes along footpaths through moonlit rice paddies. Upon arrival we enjoyed freshly harvested organic rice and baby corn and I excused myself quickly for the longest deepest sleep I’ve had in long time.
This morning I awoke to the sounds of Mas Wang calling “Ibu guru! Ibu guru!!” (Ibu is mother but used as Ms, guru is teacher) groggily, I joined the goup sitting on the mats in the front room to enjoy a cup of coffee and the glory of my surrounding in the daylight. I never tire of the Javanese landscape, terraced fields surrounded by thick forests. We are joined by a small group of students from a nearby highschool and after a quick English game it’s time to get our hands dirty. Sita, community organizer and possesor of contagious joy, informed us of the area’s great biodiversity included tigers!! I suggest we go find one and everyone laughs at me, instead we go out to release the 600 baby Lele (catfish) into their new home in the fish farm. Next we explore the organic garden and help fill tiny bags with soil to plant seeds that will become Sengon/Albasia trees. Conservation oriented, Satria Muda (young knights) is working hard to create a sustainable living for villagers; their goal is protect their forest home from developers that would destroy the delicate ecosystem. The fish and trees are sold and profits used to maintain the whole operation. The boyish young men who shyly show us around are constantly leafing through books on the enironment. When prompted to ask us questions they have a one track mind, they inquire about the young people in America, “Do they like farming?” or about our home state California, “Are there farms there? What do they grow? What kind of soil? Which has more ferteil soil, California or Java?” Thier passion is inspiring. But these modernday nights have their work cut out for them, looming above the farm a sand company’s giant backhoe eats away the hillside. I am honored to be able to help this community even in a small way but it’s obvious that they need more than a few books some seeds. They need awareness on a national and global level. Yes, it’s super en vogue to be environmentally concious right now, but there is good reason. We all have our own strenghts and abilites to contribure, Satria Muda shows us just what can be done when you get out there and do something about it.
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